The Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) has said that rising energy prices and council tax bills are playing an increasing role in forcing people into debt, with the average client of the debt charity spending £32 more a month on these expenses than in 2003.

The charity says that many people on the brink of debt problems have been pushed over the edge by the unprecedented series of gas and electricity bill increases over the last year, and has called for people on debt management plans to have their utility bills protected from further increases.

People whose budgets are under strain have also been hit by council tax rises of double the rate of inflation, and the CCCS says that people nearing retirement have been particularly badly hit.

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