Hundreds at risk of repossession every week in West Midlands

Housing charity Shelter has released the damning statistics, which place Wolverhampton as the area in the West Midlands where people are most likely to lose their home.

Charity bosses called the figures 'staggering'.

The research is based on data recorded by the Ministry of Justice over the last financial year, showing how many homeowners and private or social renters have received a possession notice for their home.

In the West Midlands league of repossessions, Wolverhampton tops the list with a rate of one possession claim per 64 households.

Of the 30 local authorities in the area, Sandwell is third with one in one in every 70 households, just behind Birmingham.

Walsall is seventh with one in every 108, while Dudley fares even better with one every 126.

Elsewhere Cannock Chase has repossessions at a rate of one every 143 homes, ahead of Lichfield at one in 153.

The Wolverhampton figures are the most alarming, however, and put the area 26th in the country.

In total there were 1,609 mortgage and landlord possession claims in the city in 2013/14.

There were marginally more in Sandwell - 1,720 - but the rate of possessions is still lower than Wolverhampton as it has more properties.

Shelter's free advice helpline is currently taking more than 480 calls each day from homeless families and those still fighting to stay in their homes.

Liz Clare, helpline adviser for Shelter, said: "We're hearing from a growing number of people who have reached crisis point and picked up the phone, often with the court papers in their hand.

"It's natural to hope mounting bills and arrears will go away, but the best thing to do is get expert advice straight away. There's absolutely no shame in getting help and a specialist adviser can help you see the light at the end of the tunnel."

Nationally, Newham in London is the place in England where householders are most likely to face losing their home.

And London boroughs – where house prices are highest and affordable housing is in particularly short supply – dominate the top of the national list.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, added: "These staggering figures show just how many families in the West Midlands go through the trauma of learning that their home is at risk, every single week.

"People are hearing that the economy is recovering, but we're seeing the reality that many families across the country are still battling to keep their heads above water and keep their homes."