Rise in numbers seeking debt help

The number of people seeking help from Wiltshire's Citizens Advice Bureaux on debt arrears has risen by more than 30% in three months, the organisation said.

Many of the problems have included falling behind on mortgage or loan payments, as the economic downturn continues to bite.

Advisors said it was important that people sought help as soon as they started to get behind with their bills.

Manager of the North Wiltshire bureau, Sheila Venn, said clients were worried.

"[They have] problems with rising prices of food, of fuel," she said.

"People are struggling anyway with lots of loans, their credit card debts, their store card debts, and it just takes one small thing for things to go badly wrong."