Plea to lenders

SHELTER IS calling on mortgage lenders to offer more help to part-time and self-employed workers, who are most at risk of losing their homes.

The campaign group for the homeless has found that the 2.5 million homeowners not in permanent work are the least likely to be able to take out mortgage payment protection insurance but are three times more likely to lose their homes.

The problem is likely to grow as the number of self-employed and part- time workers more than quadruples in the next eight years. The group is also calling on the Government to provide a safety net for homeowners on low incomes.