Luton Leads Bankruptcy Ladder

01/03/2006 15:50:00

Residents of Luton are the most likely in the UK to declare bankruptcy, according to new figures.

Over the last year 327 people in the region petitioned for bankruptcy, while across Bedfordshire the number of people declaring themselves bankrupt has risen by 50 per cent, Bedford Today reports.

The news comes at a time when debt across the UK continues to rise and KPMG calculates that the average debtor that declares themself bankrupt owes £60,000.

Marks Sands, head of court work for KPMG, who carried out the research, said: "Since Christmas we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people calling debt helplines, which demonstrates the continued build up of over-indebtedness."

He went on to say that as a result of the increase in debt, it is expected that some 50,000 people will declare themselves bankrupt in 2006, "by far the highest levels ever seen".

Lucky for Luton though – the town is also statistically the luckiest in the country for bingo players!

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