More people than ever before are seeking help with their finances as the credit crunch bites.

Citizens Advice Bureau staff (CAB) across Sussex have reported a 35% increase in people looking for advice about debts.

They claim it is now common for many people to have racked up £500,000 worth of debts, including mortgages.

Debts of around £100,000 without mortgages are also now common, the organisation said.

Jan Burns, debt adviser at Worthing CAB, said: "We are not only seeing a greater number of clients, but the levels of debt are quite horrific.

"£90,000 to £100,000 is no longer unusual and many are in the £500,000 plus bracket when one includes mortgage debt.

"At the same time we find that creditors are more reluctant to agree to reasonable offers from clients."

Staff at Brighton CAB, and others, echoed the comments, saying they had experienced a similar upsurge in clients.

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