borrowers behind on mortgage must actHomeowners who find themselves falling behind with their mortgage repayments should act as quickly as possible, an expert has advised.

The Which? essential guide to managing personal debt says that anyone struggling must face up to the problem and not hide from the fact if they wish to avoid repossession, reports the Introducer.

Phillip Inman, author of the guide, commented: "If you have fallen behind with your mortgage payments you must contact your lender as soon as you can - a head-in-the-sand attitude will only make things worse."

He added that although lenders are reluctant to let proceedings reach the repossession stage, it is becoming increasingly common.

Recent figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders have shown that repossessions are at an eight-year high with some 27,100 taking place in 2007.

However, the figures also show that this is around ten per cent fewer than had been forecast for the year.

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