Nearly half a dozen more claims to evict people from their homes in Copeland were made this summer than in 2021, figures show. 

Housing charity Shelter has accused the Government of ignoring an unfolding "crisis" in the rental market, where prices are rising rapidly. 

Ministry of Justice data shows 14 claims to repossess properties in Copeland were lodged by mortgage lenders and landlords between July and September.

Of those, seven were for homes owned by mortgage-holders, while the rest were to evict tenants.

It means there were five more claims in the latest quarter than over the same period in 2021, when nine were submitted.

Reacting to Mr Hunt's autumn statement, she said: “There is a housing hole in this budget – housing benefit remains frozen at 2020 levels when private rents have been rising at record rates."

Meanwhile, Mr Hunt said he would "monitor carefully" the situation around mortgage repossessions, after Labour former shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged the Chancellor to come back with a "package of measures" to get people through the housing crisis.

"I’ve already had a number of discussions internally in the Treasury and as necessary, I’ll come back to this House with further measures." Mr Hunt said.