"A slight rise in repossessions this quarter is reason for concern and shows that there is no room for complacency - especially against the backdrop of continued economic uncertainty and Government cutbacks. With 9,200 people going through the nightmare of losing their home we hope this is not the beginning of a rise in repossessions.

"It is good news that arrears are down slightly but worrying that there are still 27,300 loans with arrears of more than 10% of the outstanding balance. We urge lenders to give people as much chance as they can to reduce their arrears and only use repossession as the last option.

Graeme Brown continued:

"It is absolutely vital that struggling homeowners get help early. Whether you're worried about missing this month's mortgage payment or already falling behind with your bills, we can help stop things from spiralling out of control. Call Shelter Scotland's free helpline on 0808 800 4444 or visit shelter.org.uk and get help today."