The number of households facing eviction because they cannot meet their mortgage payments is soaring.

In Bristol there were 785 possession orders issued in the courts in the first half of this year – 388 of them between April and June.

Both figures represent a 22 per cent increase over the same periods last year.

Bristol had the highest number of possession orders for the whole of the West, according to the Ministry of Justice.

In Weston-super-Mare the equivalent figures are 212 (12 per cent up) and 115 (16 per cent). In Bath they are 97 (a 24 per cent increase) and 51 (19 per cent).

The prospects for homeowners struggling through the credit crunch are not looking any brighter, according to the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

"We are seriously concerned about the increase in possession proceedings," said Andy Steward, of Bristol CAB.

"It is getting worse, too. We are seeing a lot more people coming to us with mortgage problems."

Across England and Wales, 38,598 claims were made for the three-month period from April to June – a figure up 17 per cent on a year ago.

Not all of the claims for repossessions are granted and sometimes borrowers reach a late agreement to pay.

Chris Skidmore, prospective Tory parliamentary candidate for Kingswood, said: "Faced with stagnant earnings, the rocketing cost of living and soaring mortgage bills, these new figures show how the weight of debt is taking its toll on thousands of hard-working families who stretched themselves to the limit to get on the property ladder and are now finding they can no longer cope with the consequences of this government's economic mismanagement."

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable warned: "The level of growth of repossession orders suggests we are on track for a repossession crisis similar to the early 1990s."

But Housing Minister Caroline Flint denies the crisis is on that scale.

She announced a package of measures to help those who face losing their homes earlier this year, including free legal representation at county court.

Mr Steward said: "The CAB nationally is encouraging the government to think about its policy to help with housing costs for people on income support.

"The period before some people are given help should be shortened.

"We also support the initiative for the introduction of formal preliminary actions to try to avoid court proceedings.

"Repossession action should only be used as a last resort."