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The figures show that Citizens Advice Bureau in England and Wales saw 35 per cent more mortgage and secured loan arrears problems over the last 12 months, compared with the previous 12 months, with 77,324 new enquiries since October 2007.

The most recent figures for July to September 2008 show a 51 per cent increase in new mortgage and secured loan enquiries compared to the same period last year.

However, the charity said there had been a reduction in the number of credit, store and charge card debts, and unsecured personal loan debt enquiries being seen by bureaux, down 4 per cent year on year.

Citizens Advice also found that the average time frame for lenders to start taking action against those in arrears is four months.

The most common reasons cited for people falling into arrears was a loss of job or failure of business, followed by ill health and relationship breakdowns.

Citizens Advice chief executive David Harker said: "The number of enquiries about basic essentials is worrying and these figures show how the current economic situation is hitting vulnerable and low income households the hardest.

"To prevent this situation worsening, it is vital that mortgage lenders do everything in their power to help people in arrears to come to a workable solution over repayment arrangements, rather than piling on extra charges.

"All creditors should treat borrowers in arrears fairly and sympathetically, negotiate with borrowers in trouble and only use court action for mortgage arrears as a last resort."