Hundreds of families are facing financial crisis this Christmas after racking up chronic debts.

More than 1,500 households have asked advisers at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau to take on their finances because they can no longer manage, the Advertiser can reveal.

In the past 12 months, another 9,300 people have asked for free advice on how to pay off loans and meet rent and mortgage arrears.

Now, the boss of Salford’s CAB, Tom Togher, has issued a plea to cash-strapped Salfordians to contact a debt adviser before Christmas – when money problems can often spiral out of control.

Mr Togher said: "People have just been coping for 18 months and whatever slack they have had, they have come to the end of it.

"We want people to come now rather than waiting until February which is our busiest month. We are bracing ourselves for the worst post-Christmas I have ever seen."

Debt advisers write to creditors, negotiate manageable payment settlements and warn about the danger of ‘pay day loan companies’, which offer short-term loans until pay day at massive rates of interest.

Mr Togher said that people are attending advice sessions with carrier bags full of unopened debt demands.

Many are not able to keep up with council tax payments and have reached overdraft and credit card limits. The number of debt cases has increased by 16 per cent in the past 12 months.

The average debt of people contacting Salford’s CAB has risen to £15,000 over the same period.

Salford unemployed and community resource centre (UCRC) in Eccles offers free advice on dealing with bailiffs and helps reschedule loans.

Alec McFadden, development manager, said: "We have had teachers here this year who have needed advice on benefits and debt. The pressure at Christmas is horrendous."

Better news came when it was revealed that the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in Salford fell slightly from 7,998 in September to 7,985 in October.

Salford CAB employs eight specialist debt advisers and operates six branches in the city covering Eccles, Walkden,

Swinton, Salford Precinct, Irlam and Cadishead, and Salford Royal Hospital. For more information call 0161 707 4222, or Salford UCRC on 0161 789 2999.

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