NEW figures claim that North Somerset is one of the biggest repossession hotspots in the South West – but is ranked as mid-rate nationally.

In the figures, released by homeless charity Shelter, the authority is ranked as eighth out of 36 authorities in the region for the number of homeowners who have been given possession orders for their home in the past year.

In the financial year 2010/11, 180 orders were made across North Somerset - a rate of 2.12 per 1,000 households.

While the authority was highly ranked in the South West, it was bracketed as mid-rate by the charity, coming in 202nd out of 324 authorities across England.

Both authorities are bracketed as mid-rate by the charity, with the data coming from analysis of the latest Ministry of Justice data on the number of claims leading to possession orders.