A flagship government policy to help struggling homeowners has only aided one household so far, figures show.
Opposition parties have criticised the government's mortgage rescue scheme, after it emerged that it has helped only one family since launching in January.
The measure aims to help people struggling with mortgage repayments avoid repossession. The government had estimated that it would help 6,000 people over the first two years of its existence, but figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government have revealed that while 452 households have applied, just one was successful.
Various reports have suggested that repossession will rise sharply this year as the full effects of the recession take hold - and the scheme was supposed to help alleviate this situation. But opposition parties believe the government has failed in this aim.
"These shocking figures show what a sham the government's mortgage rescue scheme has been," said Conservative shadow housing minister Grant Shapps. "Thousands of families looked to Gordon Brown for help to survive his recession and he's looked the other way. He got us into this mess and he needs to help families through it."
Liberal Democrat housing spokesman Sarah Teather added: "This is an appalling failure by a government that is more interested in headline-grabbing than in helping families through the economic crisis. Tens of thousands of families will face the misery of repossession and homelessness this year."
