NEARLY 1,000 people living within the Taunton area contacted debt charity StepChange during 2014 – a 26 per cent rise on the previous year.

The charity has said that increasing numbers of people in the Taunton area are struggling with debt and are only just able to meet their living costs.

During 2014, the charity’s helpline was contacted by 954 people from the Taunton postcode area, compared to 755 in 2013, a rise of 26%.

Household budgets are increasingly stretched, with those contacting the charity from the Taunton area an average of £14 worse off than the previous year.

Those contacting the charity’s helpline had only £17 left to put towards their debts after covering their essential household bills each month, and owed £11,766 in unsecured debt such as credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts.

The figures have been released as part of the charity’s Debt Awareness Week 7 Days, 7 Ways campaign which is aimed at helping people to get control of their finances and start tackling their money problems by taking steps such as creating a comprehensive household budget and opening all correspondence from creditors.

A survey commissioned by the charity found that over two million adults in the South West region do not have a household budget.

StepChange’s chief executive, Mike O’Connor, said: “More and more families in the Taunton area are falling into debt and struggling to make ends meet.

“For those living on the edge of their financial means, taking control of the situation can seem a daunting, if not impossible, prospect, but taking positive steps towards tackling debt is crucial to getting back on your feet.

“We urge those who are worried about their debt problems to seek free confidential advice as soon as possible.”