HELP to prevent people from losing their homes is to be welcomed.

The credit crunch, banking crisis and subsequent recession have really hit ordinary East Lancashire residents.

In recent months scores of people have been made redundant as a result of the global problems.

It seems particularly harsh that families who have been left with no income through no fault of their own should suffer the prospect of losing their homes too.

When they took out their mortgages, people would not have had any idea of the problems on the horizon.

Banks, whose global gambling is partially to blame for the crisis, are being told by the government to repossess homes only as a last resort.

This is entirely right — but some people are still finding themselves in this situation.

That is why the funding to provide free legal advice to people facing repossession or eviction hearings is be welcomed.

Courts across East Lancashire are now providing this service with the operators saying they have already helped prevent people losing their homes.

Another scheme is being put in place to help elderly and disabled people under threat of repossession.

The real victims of the recession should be given all the help possible to ensure they get their lives back on track.