Lewisham and Greenwich have been named as two of England's biggest eviction and repossession hotspots.

Homeless charity Shelter ranked Lewisham joint second worst - alongside haringey and Hackney - in the whole country with a possession rate of one home in every 45.

Greenwich was joint fourth worst with one per 47 homes.

The top ten was made up exlcusively of London boroughsm with Newham alongside Barking and Dagenham topping the list.

Helpline advisor Nadeem Khan said: "We're hearing from thousands of people who have suffered in silence while they struggle to keep up with their rent or mortgage, and come to us in desperation when the court papers finally land on their doormat.

"It's natural to feel helpless in the face of mounting bills, but getting expert advice as soon as you start having trouble with housing payments can really help you see the light at the end of the tunnel, and keep the threat of losing your home at bay."

Shelter said that paying the mortgage or rent should always be a top priority and other debts such as credit card bills can be dealt with separately. 

It warned that taking on high-interest loans such as payday loans can quickly make a situation worse for someone who is already struggling with debts.

Visit shelter.org.uk for details.