SCORES of people attended an advice day yesterday, after it was revealed the number of bankruptcies in Darlington is growing faster than elsewhere in the region.

The Citizens Advice Bureau invited people from the town to its money advice sessions, to beat the problem of bankruptcy in the town.

Carol Shreeve, advice services manager, said bankruptcies had risen by 50 per cent in the town in the past 12 months.

The day-long sessions were timed to coincide with the national advice week, and new face-to-face services launched at the bureau, in Horsemarket, Darlington.

She said: "We used to see the majority of people through welfare benefit issues. Last year, this was overtaken by money issues.

"Now 44 per cent of people come to the bureau with issues related to finances and debt."

The office deals with a total of more than 6,000 customers every year.

Ms Shreeve put the problem down to a variety of issues, including the rising prices of mortgages and rent in the town.

She added: "I think it is because we have a wide demographic population in Darlington. We have some very well off people and some poor people.

"There is also a lot of temporary work in the town."

For more advice, appointments can be made on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and on alternate Saturday mornings. A drop-in service is available from noon to 6pm on Wednesdays and 10am to noon on Thursdays or the bureau, at Bennet House, can be contacted on 01325-256999.