As our research also shows, the impact of serious personal debt on people's lives can be devastating

David Harker, chief executive of Nacab

Debts ranged from student loans to mortgage shortfalls, but Nacab said over 70% of the cases they deal with involved debt on bank loans, credit and store cards, catalogue purchases and hire purchase.

Debt burden

The findings also revealed that debt was affecting many people on low incomes.

For example, while average debt per household was �10,700, the average household income was only �800 a month - less than the UK average.

Nacab Chief Executive David Harker said: "We are still shocked to find our advisers are dealing with personal debt on such a huge scale.

"As our research also shows, the impact of serious personal debt on people's lives can be devastating."

Suffering in silence

Nearly a quarter of people surveyed had struggled with serious debt problems for up to two years before seeking expert help.

Increase in consumer debt enquiries between 1997 and 2001 by region

East: 19% London: 7% Midlands: 31% Northern Ireland: 7% North of England: 90% North West: 35% South: 28% Wales: 49% West: 56%

Most people said that debt problems were not due to over-spending or over-commitment, but because their circumstances had changed.

While job loss and low incomes were the major reasons; others cited relationship breakdowns and illness as the catalyst.

Debt problems were most acute in the North and in the South West of England.

Inquiries about debt problems in the North increased from 64,427 in 1997/8 to 122,620 in 2000/2001 - a rise of 90%.

In the South West, debt problems increased from 40,133 to 62,506 - a rise of 56%.

Borrowing more

Nacab criticised lenders for the growing debt crisis.

Mr Harker said: "High levels of stress and depression experienced by people in debt raises some hard questions for creditors about responsible lending and underlines the importance of their treating people in difficulties fairly and constructively."

It is calling for more support from lenders to help people with debt problems.

Nacab's findings mirror a recent survey by Company magazine on women's debt problems.

It showed that three-quarters of young women are in debt - with a quarter of those owing more than �15,000.

Women in their late twenties have accumulated the most debt - with 81% of women between 26 and 28 years old living in the red.

Further information:

BBC News Online has a useful question & answer piece on how to manage debt (see links).