PEOPLE struggling with debt have been urged to come forward and seek help, as the end of lockdown leaves huge financial pressures in its wake.

The combination of rising unemployment, reduced hours, illness and larger bills, all of which have been exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis, has created a situation where many people now have unmanageable debt.

In response Christians Against Poverty (CAP) have urged anyone in such a situation to come forward to one of the charity's debt centre, with one client, who wishes to remain anonymous, having credited her local centre in Chorley with helping to save her life.

She said: "Without CAP I think I would probably be dead as I wouldn’t have had money to buy food! Now, I’m going to uni!

"Now, I know I can afford it and I feel mentally better, I’m hoping to change people’s lives the way CAP has changed mine."

CAP also a debt centre in the Redeemer Parish Office, Jack Walker Way, Blackburn, at St Leonards Church, Church Street, Padiham and at St. Laurence’s Parish Church, Chorley.

The plea for people in need to come forward comes after recent findings have shown that East Lancashire has been particularly hard by the economic impact of the crisis.

A recent report by the Centre for Cities found that Blackburn was set to be the fifth worst effected town in England by the the government's plans to cut universal credit in September, with the average claimant set to lose around £1000 per year while Burnley would fair even worse as the fourth most effected.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics also found that over 20 per cent of people living in Blackburn with Darwen were classified as "income deprived", with average income just £13,741 and 50 local neighbourhoods amongst the worst-off in England.

Now, with pandemic restrictions easing, CAP has cautioned that this does not mean pressures on people's finances will also ease.

Chorley CAP Debt Centre Manager Sue Boult said: "Although we’ve continued helping people out of debt throughout the pandemic, we know that many have been in survival mode and it’s only as we come out of lockdown that they will start to seek help.

"Unfortunately, the easing of Covid-19 restrictions doesn’t mean an easing to the impact on people’s personal finances.

"Our concern is that even more people are going to fall into financial difficulty once schemes such as furlough come to an end later this year.

"We want everyone to know that we offer free debt help along with localised support, understanding and encouragement."

To book an appointment with CAP, call 0800 328 0006 or visit capuk.org.