South East found to be `2010 debt hotspot`

People in the South East of England had the highest average amount of unsecured debt last year, according to research by the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS).

According to its map of regional `debt hotspots` for 2010, clients in the South East were carrying an average debt of £21,581 - with Slough residents facing the highest average debt of £24,946. Furthermore, of the ten UK postcodes with the highest average debt, nine were in London / South East.

Though the study found that the average debt owed on credit cards, personal loans and other forms of unsecured credit (£19,338) had actually fallen from 2009, not everywhere saw a similar fall.

Belfast`s average actually increased to £18,855 - a rise of 5%. In Wales, Cardiff was identified as having the highest average amount of debt of any Welsh town or city: owing an average of £18,577.

In the North East, Newcastle `matched the average debt of the region`, while in the North West, Crewe was found to have the highest average debt outside London / South East - carrying average unsecured debts to the tune of £23,177.