Telford & Wrekin was today named as a “hotspot” for house repossessions with one of the worst records in the West Midlands.

Homeless charity Shelter ranked the borough 65th worst in a league table of 324 areas nationwide and put it among the worst 10 in the Midlands.

The charity based its research on latest Ministry of Justice data on the rates of claims leading to possession orders across every local authority.

It found there were a total of 215 repossessions in Telford & Wrekin last year which equated to 3.99 per 1,000 households.

The statistics put the borough eighth worst in the West Midlands and Shelter said it made it a hotspot for repossessions.

Corby in the East Midlands was ranked worst in the country, with 155 repossessions, a rate of 7.56 per 1,000 households, and Tamworth came out worst in the West Midlands, with 135 and 5.39 respectively.

Shropshire Council was ranked 229th in the country, with 205 possession orders and a rate of 1.79, and 24th in the region.

The West Midlands region as a whole had the fourth highest rate of at risk homeowners compared to all other English regions, according to the findings.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: “This research paints a frightening picture of repossession hotspots in the West Midlands where homeowners are literally on the brink of losing the roof over their head.

“We know only too well that the combined pressures of high inflation, increased living costs and stagnant wages are really taking a toll on people.

“All it takes is one thing like job loss to tip people over the edge and into the spiral of debt, repossession and ultimately homelessness.

“And with interest rates due to increase in the near future this research is a clear warning sign of difficult times ahead for many thousands of homeowners across the country.

“It is absolutely vital that struggling homeowners in the West Midlands, in particular those at risk when interest rates rise, get help before things spiral out of control and they risk losing their home.”

Experts are predicting repossessions in England will rise to 45,000 next year. Anyone struggling with housing costs should call Shelter on 0808 800 4444.

By Simon Hardy