Debt advice offered at city event

Debt advisers say they are dealing with an "unprecedented" workload in the West Midlands as a result of the recession.

Birmingham City Council's revenue and benefits teams and Citizens Advice Bureau staff held a drop-in event to help people manage their finances.

The council's Illegal Money Lending Team said it gave advice on how to avoid loan sharks at the event held in the city's Edgbaston Street.

It was arranged by groups involved in the Financial Inclusion Partnership.

Jacqui Kennedy, from the group, said the event aimed to address debt and poverty.

"In particular we are concerned that at these times more people are unable to access mainstream financial products such as bank accounts and low-cost loans," she said.

"In using the alternative credit market, they may pay higher levels of interest, and this can lead to financial and social exclusion as well as poverty."