More than 1,000 families in Bradford were threatened with repossession last year – down almost a quarter in 2009.

But the Ministry of Justice figures reveal how families up and down the country appear to be increasingly struggling to meet their monthly repayments as there was a marked increase in the last quarter of 2010.

And critics warn the situation will only get worse with massive cuts and job losses expected to kick in later this year.

Mortgage lenders started 1,005 repossession claims – the first stage of taking back a property – across the Bradford district last year.

Although the overall figure was 23 per cent down on 2009, a breakdown reveals that 245 claims were started in the three months leading up to Christmas – up five per cent on the same three-month period the previous year.

The figures mean last year 5.23 claims were made per 1,000 households across the district compared to 4.19 in Calderdale, 4.34 in Kirklees, 3.23 in Leeds and 4.53 in Wakefield. Despite Leeds seeing 1,080 claims in 2010, Bradford had a higher proportion based on numbers per 1,000 population.

Across West Yorkshire claims fell by 17 per cent in 2010 compared with 2009, but rose by three per cent in the comparative quarters from October to December – in line with the Bradford trend.

The figures, produced by the Ministry of Justice, do not reveal the actual number of evictions because a family can still save their home after a claim has been made by settling their debts or reaching an agreement with the borrower.

Across England and Wales, 75,431 families were threatened with repossession in 2010, of which 17,847 were in the last quarter.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps said: “The fall in repossessions is welcome, but I am concerned that too many people are still worrying about losing their homes without seeking support. I urge anyone who thinks they may be at risk of losing their home to take action immediately. There is help available and repossession should only ever be the very last resort.”