The government is coming under pressure to make changes to the state aid for people who fall behind with mortgage payments due to unemployment.

It currently takes around nine months for the help to make its way to claimants and the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said that this is too long.

According to the organisation, the money needs to be received quicker than that.

CML director general Michael Coogan, told BBC Radio Four that he would like to see many changes made to the current system.

"What we are looking for is a system that pays more quickly than the nine months," he commented.

"Also isn''t capped at £100,000 mortgages because that is out of date, and also relates to the interest rate that the individual pays and not a standard interest rate as now," added Mr Coogan.

The director general also pointed out that the financial help need not affect the taxpayer as the money can be recouped once the property is sold on.