SEVERAL districts of the North-East feature in a debt league table, which lists areas where people struggle with arrears.
People living in Scarborough, Cleveland and Gateshead are some of the most likely in Britain to have large debts, according to a debt stress league table drawn up by the Consumer Credit Counselling Service, a charity that offers free debt counselling.
Scarborough is ranked seventh in Britain, with almost a third of residents' income eaten up by debt and in Skelton, Cleveland, roughly 20 per cent of people's wages are spent on repayments.
Basingstoke topped the league tables, with 31 per cent of income taken up with arrears.
The debt counselling service drew up the table by examining more than 10,000 records of their clients who used its service between 1997 and 1999. Last year, they received 90,000 calls for help and returned £26m to creditors.
People with debt problems can ring the Consumer Credit Counselling Service on 0800 138 1111 between 8am and 8pm weekdays.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article