New figures released on Monday show that millions of people do not have access to a bank account.

A survey for the Financial Services Authority (FSA) revealed that up to 58% of the UK's poorest people do not have a bank account, living a largely cash existence.

And in the population as a whole, around 17% of people do not manage their money through a bank.

The FSA survey, which interviewed 60,000 people, also showed that within certain population groups this figure rose to 26%.

In a bid to make it easier for people to open an account, the government announced the introduction of a basic type of bank account earlier this year.

Many High Street banks now offer such an account to assist the millions of people who would not normally qualify.

The accounts are designed to help ensure recipients of state benefits continue to receive money due when, in 2003, payments are delivered directly to bank accounts.