Residents in Shropshire are facing a £20million mountain of debt, it was revealed today. Their financial misery includes mounting bills for housing, credit card debts and loans.

Shrewsbury topped the list with 650 cases amounting to £6,714.406, followed by 179 cases in Oswestry with debts of £2,905,512, according to Citizen Advice Bureau Shropshire.

Bridgnorth and District faces debts of £957,500 from 35 cases. North Shropshire has 115 cases amounting to £2,145,167 debt while South Shropshire has 66 cases amounting to £1,086,236 since the debt project began there in May.

A specialist team who deal with clients with multiple debts has 598 cases totalling £6,567,143.

Liz Warren, service director for CAB Shropshire, said: “Debt is a hugely growing area of our work. The biggest problem is housing rents and mortgages.

“Where we are able to negotiate with landlords or mortgage companies we are preventing homelessness, which has all sorts of knock-on effects.”

She added: “Debt can cause serious problems for people and affect every aspect of their lives so it is our job to ensure that they receive the best possible advice and support to resolve their debt and related problems.”

In dealing with debts, Mrs Warren said they check the client’s income and expenditure, advise on benefits entitlements, agree a strategy of how to deal with creditors, negotiate with creditors and represent at court if appropriate.

Telford and Wrekin Bureau is not part of CAB Shropshire and did not have figures available today.