STUDENTS in the North West are among the most debt-ridden in the country - and most of them don't care.

According to a new survey, they owe about £1,537 to the student loan scheme, compared to the national average of £1,324.

Students in the area also owe about £524 to banks compared to the national figure of £356.

The average student in the North West is £2,327 in debt, 17 per cent more than the national average of £1,982.

The Barclays student debt survey revealed that 64 per cent of those questioned said they were not bothered about debt, while 36 per cent said they were worried or concerned. It also found:

28 per cent of students in the area took term-time jobs compared to the national average of 32 per cent.

Those who take casual jobs work for 13 hours a week earning about £53.

More are turning to their parents for financial support.

Alison Roylance, student business officer with Barclays in Manchester, said: "The nature of student funding has changed significantly during the five years that Barclays has conducted a survey into student debt.

"As grants have decreased, so students have sought to replace funds from a wider range of sources.

"While borrowing increasingly more from the student loan scheme, students are supplementing their incomes by turning to their parents or banks, either as a stop-gap or long-term measure."

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