THE credit crunch is affecting all aspects of life.

Most people have been feeling the pinch as a result of rising food and energy prices.

There have also been people unfortunate enough to have been made redundant as shops and businesses struggle.

Today it has been revealed that the recession has also been a contributing factor in a sharp increase in shoplifting in Burnley town centre.

While Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley have not experienced the same spate of problems, police have said the number of offences in Burnley have increased by 50 per cent.

This shows how far reaching the problem is being felt.

But there is perhaps a danger that people will let the downturn, and talk of recession, take over their lives.

Everyone is feeling short on cash. But to let the credit crunch stop us from living our lives as we have been doing will only compound the problems.