MORE than 1,000 Plymouth people went to a debt counselling charity for help last year.

On average, they had nearly £19,000 of unsecured debts.

The number of people who contacted the debt advice charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS), rose in 2010 by 17per cent to 1,007.

The average debt level, at £18,970, was slightly lower than the national average of £19,338.

The charity warned against complacency. Delroy Corinaldi, its external affairs director, said: "While debt levels in Plymouth are below the UK average, the continuing squeeze on household budgets is making it increasingly difficult for many debtors to repay what they owe. I remain concerned about the personal debt situation in the area.

"I would urge anyone in Plymouth who is worried about how to deal with their debts to seek free advice from a charity such as CCCS as early as possible."

Steve Meakin, money advice co-ordinator for Devon and Cornwall Citizens Advice Bureau, said: "It doesn't come as any surprise to me because at the Citizens Advice Bureau we have an ever increasing number of people coming to see us about debt – it's by far the biggest area of our work.

He added: "35 to 40 per cent of all our enquiries are debt related and 75 per cent of all the work we do is what you would call related to financial inclusion such as benefits.

"Debt is by far our biggest area of work and the Plymouth service is the biggest supplier of debt advice in the city."

The figures are revealed by Debt View, a new map on the CCCS website which breaks down personal debt by region, area and postcode.

CCCS provides free and confidential debt advice via its telephone helpline (0800 138 1111) and anonymous online debt counselling tool, CCCS Debt Remedy, at www.cccs.co.uk