US home foreclosure filings doubled last month from a year ago and the nation’s biggest mortgage lender said late payments rose, suggesting the US mortgage crisis is not abating.

The number of foreclosures jumped to 223,538 in September, 99 per cent higher than the number last year, though down 8 per cent from August, according to RealtyTrac, which compiles housing data. California had the largest number of foreclosures, with 51,259, and Florida was second, with 33,354.