The revelation follows tightened lending conditions and the effects of raised interest rates.

Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr is planning special arrangements to govern actions for repossession making court action for repossession a measure of last resort.

Housing rights charity representative Ursula Toner said: "Today's figures do not come as a surprise. We have experienced a 300 per cent increase in demand for our specialist debt service."

As Northern Ireland heads into recession and the numbers claiming unemployment benefits rise at the fastest rate in two decades she warned things would get worse.

"We believe today's figures are just the tip of the iceberg."

In a bid to assist growing numbers facing homelessness, the Housing Rights Service will be making an adviser available at court to assist those facing debt-related repossession.

There were 1,006 mortgage repossession actions from July to September this year. That compares to 521 in the same period last year and just 488 in 2004.

The Director of the Court Service, David Lavery, said: "The Court Service has been aware of the rising trend of repossession actions in Northern Ireland and has agreed with Housing Rights Service on the need to provide advice facilities at the Royal Courts of Justice and at Laganside Courts.

"This initiative will ensure that advice is available free of change for people involved in repossession proceedings who do not have their own legal representation."

The Lord Chief Justice is also considering a special protocol governing actions for housing repossession in the province.

The general principles are already being applied by the courts and consultation on a draft protocol has begun.

Under it, a judge hearing a repossession case will expect parties to take all reasonable steps to resolve matters before starting proceedings, so that a repossession claim is a measure of last resort.

Before going to court, parties would be encouraged to have discussions about the reasons for the mortgage falling into arrears and the borrower's financial circumstances to see if a proposal for repayment could be agreed.

A spokeswoman for the Lord Chief Justice said: "Judges in Northern Ireland see repossession proceedings as a last resort."

The steps in the draft protocol are very similar to the steps many mortgage lenders already take before going to court, she said.

"A protocol will seek to ensure that all lenders adhere to best practice and will help make sure that no-one loses their home in Northern Ireland unless there is no reasonable alternative," she said.

It was also important for people who may be the subject of proceedings to seek advice as early as possible from a solicitor or an advice centre. In many situations something can be done to save their home, she stressed.

Meanwhile Ms Toner said in the longer term there needed to be a concerted and co-ordinated effort from Government and lenders to safeguard homes.

She said: "Housing Rights Service has an excellent record in helping save our clients homes but volumes have increased so much that we have already had to restrict access to our advice line.

"There has been a lot of media coverage and statistics regarding the credit crunch and its fall-out. It's easy to forget that these statistics represent people faced with the very real prospect of losing their homes.