Property at risk as more fail to pay

New figures today reveal the number of people across the region who are struggling to meet mortgage repayments and risk losing their homes has risen by a quarter.Repossession claims made in the county courts by mortgage lenders in the region totalled 684 in the first quarter of this year - up 25 per cent on the same period a year ago.

Claims to proceed against some 158 homes in Telford were lodged between January 1 and March 31, down three per cent.

Elsewhere in the county, 80 households in Shrewsbury face being evicted, up a massive 111 per cent.

In Oswestry, some 34 families could be kicked out, an increase of 36 per cent - again, well above the national average of 16 per cent, with 40,442 households at risk across England and Wales.

Further data reveals some 110 people have already had their homes repossessed in Telford during the first three months of the year after struggling to meet mortgage repayments, down three per cent.

A total of 26,930 mortgage repossession orders were issued by the county courts nationally during the first quarter, up 11 per cent on the same period a year ago.

The data offers an early indication of homeowners' ability to cope with higher mortgage repayments as a result of coming to the end of short-term fixed rate deals and instead having to go on to their lenders' more expensive standard variable rate - and the impact of rising rising utility and food bills.

Housing minister Caroline Flint said families facing repossession because of the credit crunch will get free legal help to avoid losing their homes.