PROTESTORS barricaded a house in support of a woman facing eviction over mortgage arrears claims.

Glynis Craggs, 59, of Bridge Street, in Sunnybrow, Willington, County Durham, is in dispute with Redstone Mortgages.

Campaigners from across the country, many wearing masks or with faces hidden by scarves, descended on Mrs Craggs’ home today (Wednesday, March 11).

Around 30 people defied bailiffs hoping to evict widower Mrs Craggs from her home, as she tried to halt the eviction through the courts.

Police observed the stand-off from a distance to ensure there was no breach of the peace on the streets of the former mining town.

Mrs Craggs bought her home in 1988 and in recent years her mortgage has been handled by Redstone Mortgages.

She claims her mortgage payments were up to date at the end of January last year and that she owed no arrears.

Mrs Craggs said: “Then I asked Redstone a question that they didn’t like about the power of attorney on my mortgage and they told me that they had a complaint against me.

“That was in January 2014. Since then I have been in dispute with them and I haven’t paid anymore mortgage payments.

“I’m being evicted for asking a question and I’m terrified. I’ll be homeless if they throw me out of my Bridge Street home."

Tom Crawford, 64, who had problems with Bradford and Bingley in Nottingham concerning his mortgage, travelled to support the campaign.

The cancer sufferer posted a video online last year asking for help when bailiffs arrived at his home and around 200 people turned up to support him.

He said: “If they think that someone will question things they don’t like it. I’ll be here for as long as it takes to resolve this.”

Protestors including Mrs Craggs travelled to Durham Crown Court and Newcastle Crown Court today (Wednesday, March 11) to try to halt the eviction.

A Redstone spokesman said: “We obtained a possession order on July 11 2014 in respect of the borrowers' mortgaged property due to the extent of the arrears on their account.

“Redstone is entitled to enforce the possession order and an eviction is due to take place today. (Wednesday, March 11) “The customers have had sufficient notice of the eviction date and have been afforded ample opportunity by both Redstone and the court to make the necessary arrangements to leave the property.

“As with any borrowers, repossession is very much a last resort for Redstone. However, the court was satisfied that Redstone had sufficient grounds to enforce its possession order.”