The figures are grim, and the Government's response is limp

Across the country, a total of 45,000 families are predicted to suffer the misery of home repossession this year - up from 26,200 in 2007.

Even that figure does not include those losing their homes when lenders impose little-known "charging orders" against debts on credit cards, store cards and personal loans - a hidden scandal, say some campaigners.

Gordon Brown's response was a "mortgage rescue scheme", under which a housing association will clear the debt, with the homeowner switching to become a tenant at an affordable rent.

But, with a puny £200m set aside, as few as 200 families across Merseyside and Cheshire will be bailed out - a drop in the ocean of the likely 10,000-plus repossession orders this year.

We were told there was a lack of cash for anything more ambitious - only for £50bn to be found behind the sofa a few weeks later to rescue the ailing high street banks.

Worse, it is the nationalised banks - in particular, Northern Rock - leading the repossessions charge. I'm one of the taxpayers propping it up, yet I don't remember being asked my view on such a harsh policy.

If I had been asked, I would have stressed the great bank bail- out was supposed to help ordinary people - not allow bungling bankers to accelerate the housing crisis.

With big stakes bought in Lloyds TSB, HBOS and the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Government should be ordering that families in trouble can switch to renting from their local council. Why not impose a 90-day moratorium on all repossessions - which, funnily enough, is what Barack Obama says he will do come January?

It is outrageous to bail out bankers - then kick out struggling homeowners.