POST-FESTIVE financial blues could hit harder than ever this year as millions struggle to make rent and mortgage payments, charity Shelter warned yesterday.

It reported a surge in numbers of people contacting its helplines for assistance.

Among them was Katharine, who said: “I’ve borrowed money from family and even had to stop paying bills to keep the roof over my children’s heads.

“It’s horrible to start another year not knowing if I can afford to keep my home.”

New research by the charity suggests that up to 3.2 million people are now struggling and risk losing their homes as wages flatline.

Labour shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds said plummeting pay was responsible.

“This government has failed to tackle low pay and housebuilding has fallen to the lowest levels in peacetime since the 1920s,” she said.

“Working people are now over £1,600 a year worse off than when David Cameron came to office.”