Head of campaigns James Jopling said: "There is strong evidence to suggest that mortgage default and repossessions in Scotland are an increasing problem for many people.

"Even just seeing a 42 per cent increase in traffic to our website is an indicator people are already seeking help.

"With repossessions set to rise this year, we worry that, even though we provide advice online, on the phone, and in person, that we haven’t got the resources to help everyone."

Shelter’s web pages offering advice on repossession were visited nearly 25,000 times last year.

The charity's call comes the day after City watchdog the Financial Services Authority said more than one million mortgages across the UK were a "cause for concern".

It cited riskier lending characteristics, including people being lent high multiples of their salaries over longer periods of time, as a major issue.

At the same time the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors predicted that around 123 homes will be repossessed every day during 2008, the equivalent of 45,000 during the year.

Yesterday the Bank of England said just 73,000 new loans were approved for people moving home in December - the lowest figure since July 1995.

The level was also 10 per cent below November's figure and marked the seventh month in a row that the number of mortgages for movers has fallen.

Shelter is calling on the Scottish Government to develop a free telephone and online advice service to stricken homeowners. It would also oblige mortgage lenders to provide details of the service to all customers.

Shelter blamed irresponsible lending, rising house prices, interest rates, council tax, fuel bills and transport costs for the crisis.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We will continue to urge mortgage lenders to put in place debt management arrangements that help those facing the spectre of mortgage arrears and repossessions."

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