MORE people in Herefordshire are at risk of losing their homes to repossession, a new study says.

Figures from the Ministry of Justice show the number of mortgage repossessions applied for at Hereford County Court between April and June this year had risen by more than a third since the same time in 2007.

However, those in charge of the survey pointed out the figures did not reflect the amount of homes physically repossessed – as many of the orders made may not have been enforced – and said those that were would be announced by the Council of Mortgage Lenders instead.

The Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Hereford, Sarah Carr, called for proposals that would see courts only go ahead with repossessions in extreme circumstances. She also wanted help for struggling families to release equity from their homes.

“These are plans that could save many residents of Herefordshire from the trauma of home repossession,” she said.

The 37% rise in the county puts the actual number of orders made in the second quarter of 2008 at 59.

Neighbouring authorities like Worcester saw only a 3% increase and Brecknock in Wales stayed the same.

Only two other regions across the whole of West Mercia, the Black Country and Staffordshire saw a greater percentage hike, with Stafford’s figures having risen by almost three quarters on last year and Stoke-on-Trent’s by nearly a half as the credit crunch bites.