The number of professionals needing help for mortgage difficulties has nearly doubled in the last year, according to a charity.

The Phoenix Project said that it has seen a significant increase in the number of doctors, solicitors and architects who are struggling to pay their mortgage over the past year.

The Irish Times reports that 38% of the 1,800 cases the charity is dealing with relate to professionals in mortgage arrears – up from 20% last year.

The increase is being blamed on an increase in pressure from banks and vulture funds on many property investors.