THE NUMBER of Dorset residents with debt worries is rising dramatically according to statistics released today.

The number of residents in the western half of Dorset seeking debt advice from charity StepChange increased by almost a third – 31 per cent – between January and June 2014, compared to the same period in 2013.

A total of 253 of the county’s residents sought advice from the charity’s helpline, compared to 193 in the same period in the previous year.

The results are released as part of Step Change’s Need to Sleep campaign, which found more than 860,000 people in the South West are being kept awake by money worries.

The survey, conducted by YouGov on behalf of StepChange, showed the same individuals had just £1 left on average at the end of each month after living costs such as housing payments, energy bills and council tax.

The results also showed Dorset people contacting the charity owed an average of £11,890 in unsecured debt.

Kate Wheller, Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, said: “The statistics are not surprising. All debt advice agencies are reporting the same thing and it’s a particular problem in the south west.” She added: “The council has an emergency fund that people can apply to when necessary, but we are working very hard now on an economic regeneration strategy which we hope will alleviate these problems.”

Margaret Barker, from Dorchester Poverty Action, said: “There is a lot of low-paid work in Dorchester so not only people on benefits but people in work are struggling to make ends meet.”

Dorchester’s Mayor Peter Mann said: “I’m not really surprised by these figures. The number of people seeking debt advice from Dorchester’s Citizen’s Advice Bureau has also increased year on year, and Dorchester’s food bank helped about 700 people last year.”