The housebuilder Crest Nicholson is considering asking shareholders, including the HBOS banking group, for a cash boost to prevent it breaching bank covenants.

A total of 18,900 homes were repossessed during the first six months of the year, up 48% on a year ago, according to figures published today.

The current building boom across  northern England will soon come to an end, cost consultant Davis Langdon has warned.

The Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold at 5%