GOVERNMENT statistics have revealed the number of families facing a homeless Christmas has risen nearly 50 per cent in the past year.

Figures released yesterday indicate that 344 households in County Durham have been classed as homeless this year, a 48 per cent increase on the same period last year.

The housing and homelessness charity Shelter warned that rising unemployment, increased fuel bills and high living costs meant the outlook was unlikely to improve in the near future and demonstrated a reminder of the stark reality for many families facing the prospect of Christmas with no home.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: “It is an absolute tragedy that so many families in County Durham will be facing Christmas without a home to call their own. But what is most worrying is how much this number has increased over the past year.

“With someone facing losing their home every two minutes, the reality is that this fate could happen to anyone of us.

“All it takes is one small thing, such as an illness or financial trouble, and things can soon spiral out of control.

“It is vital that the local authorities in and around County Durham do all they can to support people at this very difficult time.”

Elsewhere in the region, the figure stands at 15 in Darlington, 101 in Middlesbrough, 63 in Stockton, nine in Hartlepool and nine in Redcar.

In North Yorkshire, there are 65 homeless families in the Richmondshire district and 78 in Hambleton.

Regionally, the overall numbers are 1,390 for the North-East and 3,600 for Yorkshire and Humberside.

Research by Shelter shows that, nationally, between now and Christmas, 630 people a day will receive a letter threatening the loss of their home.

Meanwhile, a YouGov survey on behalf of another homelessness charity, Crisis, found that 28 per cent of people in the North-East are concerned that they might lose their homes because of the country’s economic problems.

Twenty-five per cent of participants said they could get into difficulties with their rent or mortgage payments in the next few months and six per cent say they are already struggling.