AN EAST Lancashire solicitor has revealed that the credit crunch may also be playing a part in marriage break-ups.

Ian Brunt, family lawyer at Haworth and Nuttall Solicitors, a law firm with offices in Accrington, Blackburn and Great Harwood, reports that finances are becoming more important than ever in break-ups, with couples struggling to make ends meet due to issues like the high cost of living.

Now Mr Brunt is seeing the credit crunch blamed for part of some break-ups in the matrimonial work he is carrying out.

He said: “The credit crunch is adding pressure to marriages that may be struggling already, and is acting as that final straw.

"Unfortunately this is nothing new – in the 1990s it was widely known that the recession faced by the country led to divorces, and it is not surprising that we could be seeing the same effect again.

“In the 1990s this was happening especially among rich, London based bankers, but filtered down to middle and working classes as the economic situation became worse, which is what seems to be happening now.”

The news comes as the economy shrank for the first time in 16 years between July and September, placing the UK on the brink of recession.

Output fell by 0.5 per cent according to the Office for National Statistics, a bigger-than-expected drop, knocking UK shares and weakening the pound.

Mr Brunt added: “The credit crunch is also making divorces themselves more difficult.

"Property is the key part of any divorce settlement and the credit crunch is creating two conflicting difficulties: the lack of mortgage finance is making buy out settlements impossible and the stagnant housing market means that the house cannot be sold and divided.

“This double edged sword is making each divorce more difficult and, more importantly, more stressful for the adults and children involved in each divorce case.”