A Bradford MP says financial companies should show more responsibility when lending money, as figures show a huge rise in the number of people declaring themselves bankrupt in the district.

The figures from the Government showed a massive rise in Bradford making it the most struggling area in West Yorkshire.

A total of 125 individual bankruptcy petitions were filed in Bradford in the three months between July and the end of September, compared to only 37 in the same period last year - a 238 per cent increase.

Personal bankruptcies - blamed on rising utility bills and credit card debt - also soared in the West Yorkshire region from 256 to 416.

Bradford West MP Marsha Singh said: "People have got themselves into debt but at the same time the financial institutions are not blameless for continually allowing people to have credit when it is not appropriate.

"It is about time they woke up to their responsibilities they have in the community. Every day I get a letter of some sort through the door asking to sign up to a credit card. I know debt is a huge problem and it is increasing and extremely worrying."

The figures mean the number of people choosing to declare themselves bankrupt in Bradford is higher than the 62 per cent increase in region as a whole.

The figures released by the Department of Constitutional Affairs is strong evidence that a growing number of people in the area are struggling to pay off their debts.

The number of people being forced to declare themselves bankrupt by creditors in Bradford was also higher than the average number for West Yorkshire.

In Bradford there was an increase from 76 in the third quarter of last year compared with 101 this year - a 33 per cent hike. But the West Yorkshire only saw a 24 per cent increase from 175 to 217 - meaning almost half of the cases were from Bradford alone.

The figures come days after the department released statistics for the number of people who face losing their home in Bradford soared by more than 50 per cent.

In a further blow the Bank of England increased interest rates to five per cent last Thursday - the highest level in five years.

Bradford North MP Terry Rooney said: "This is simply due to it being easier now to go bankrupt. It is stupid if people decide to go bankrupt as they cannot get credit for many years apart from at extortionate rates."

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