FURTHER HELP ANNOUNCED BY GOVERNMENT TO TACKLE REPOSSESSION IN NORTH WEST DURHAM  

Housing Minister John Healey is stepping up support for struggling homeowners by extending the Government's campaign to offer free and impartial help and advice into 2010.  He has announced an extension to the local drive to encourage people to seek mortgage help and advice into 34 new areas which are at high risk of repossessions.    Wear Valley and Derwentside are two areas which will benefit from this extra help.  John Healey said: “In the early 1990s, The Tories left families to sink or swim as the recession took its course. Repossessions, arrears and negative equity reached double their current level.”  â€œWe have put support for homeowners at the heart of our response to the economic downturn.   We have tightened the rules so repossession is always the last resort for lenders. Over 300,000 homeowners have got help and advice with their mortgage since...