REPOSSESSIONS in Southampton are running higher than in all its neighbouring local authority areas, according to a report by the UK homeless charity Shelter.

In 2011/12, there were 260 repossessions in the city – a rate of 3.32 per cent for every 1,000 homes. In Winchester , the rate is 1.94 per cent, one of the lowest repossession rates in the country.

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham has called on the Government to relieve the pressure on hard-pressed households.

He said: “The number of housing repossessions in Southampton is deeply troubling.

I believe the heart of the problem can be found in rising fuel bills and living costs.

What we need is for the David Cameron and George Osborne to deal with these issues head on.”