DEBT advice can be accessed for free by the thousands of Somerset residents struggling to pay their bills.

Citizens Advice Somerset helped more than 3,000 people with financial problems in 2023.

This is a 15% increase on the previous year, which it says aligns with the national picture, where an estimate 5 million people have higher outgoings than incomings.

The top debt issue faced by the county continues to be council tax, where the charity saw a large increase in those looking for advice.

One client, who recently went debt free, said: “It has given me hope for a brighter future.

“I didn’t realise how deep I was in, until I was drowning.”

Rhoda Cooke, operations manager, added: “First of all, you need to know you’re not alone.

“There is help available and there are some basic things you can do now to start putting yourself back in control.

“Make a list of all your debts and the details of each; at first it might be a bit overwhelming to see them written down but remember this is the first step in sorting them out.

“Prioritise paying rent or mortgage, energy bills and council tax. Not paying these has the most serious consequences.

“You can always contact Citizens Advice Somerset for help on finding a way forward.”

Free, independent, confidential advice can be accessed by visiting www.citizensadvice.org.uk.

Particularly relevant guides are: ‘Start dealing with your debts’,  ‘How to reduce living costs’ and ‘Other ways to increase your income’.