MORE than 450 properties in York have been repossessed in the past year, according to a new report by the charity Shelter.

Council leader James Alexander said households on the council’s housing waiting list had also increased, but 170 vacant dwellings had been brought into use in 2011 and the number of vacant dwellings reduced to 1,300.

He said the report revealed York was in the top third for repossessions in the country and was “sober reading”.