THE NUMBER of legal actions linked to mortgage repossessions in Northern Ireland has leapt by 59 per cent, figures released by the Courts Service show.

During the second quarter of 2008, 929 writs and originating summonses were issued.

The comparable figure for the second quarter in 2007 was 584, showing a 59 per cent increase in the number of mortgage cases received against the same period in 2007.

Rising prices, loss of income, unemployment and the effects of the credit crunch are being blamed.

A spokeswoman for the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said: "With the market conditions at the moment, we know there are borrowers coming to the end of their cheaper deals encountering higher payments and not being able to remortgage at a time when household finances are being hit by higher food and fuel prices.

"Clearly some borrowers are struggling with this and not able to cope."

Sinn Féin West Belfast MLA Fra McCann said: "These latest figures require an urgent response. [SDLP Minister for Social Development] Margaret Ritchie needs to get on with producing a scheme for mortgage relief to give hope to those who find themselves in severe difficulties."

A spokesman for the Department of Social Development said it will shortly launch a consultation document on its proposed mortgage rescue scheme. SDLP Assembly member Thomas Burns said: "In June Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie announced a mortgage rescue scheme, but it cannot be introduced without a proper period of consultation, so it will be some time before its impact is reflected in the figures.

"Simplistic calls for intervention will not be much use if we get widespread negative equity. [These] figures cover both domestic and commercial property.

"The real point is that the rise in repossessions is a signal of a difficult economic time ahead, and that must be a matter for the whole Executive.

"The only answer to negative equity is an economic upturn and that requires proper economic management."