A Bradford charity is issuing advice to cash-strapped families following the results of a new survey on how they pay their bills.

Christians Against Poverty (Cap) found that 95 per cent of families pay the most aggressive debtor - even if it means their children go hungry or they stand to lose their home.

Now, as most households face the largest bills of the year, the group is urging people to use the little they have more wisely.

Director John Kirkby said: "We found there was little or no rational decision made about who was the most important to pay.

"Rent, mortgage, council tax and utilities were often left unpaid while unsecured loans, credit cards and other non-priority debts were paid."

The survey, funded by British Gas and Yorkshire Water, quizzed the 140 families and individuals helped by the charity since it was launched two years ago.

The companies felt the organisation had a unique understanding of the difficulties families face on the bread line.

"We get to know about the whole finances of a family from income to rent, mortgage to debts and the amount spent on food and clothing," said Mr Kirkby. "These people tell us how it really is, not what they might tell British Gas or their bank manager."

Results showed 80 per cent of families helped by Cap were more than two months in arrears with their mortgage or rent and more than £500 behind with utility bills and council tax.

Some were in a state of total collapse and had simply abandoned paying any debts until someone pressurised them.

But Mr Kirkby said the law is on the side of the poor family and it has nothing to fear from threats of court action from loansharks.

"If these people ever took you to court, and most of them only threaten it, you would pay a fair amount to them after your priority bills had been paid. That's how the county court works,'' he said.

He told of one single mother with two children who was visited by two debt collectors even after she had arranged with the loan firm to make a regular, reduced payment.

The women demanded £8 and said if she did not pay they would take away the children's bikes, which were Christmas presents.

The young woman said: "OK take them" and when the collectors left with them, she rang Cap.

Staff there contacted the firm and pointed out that what they had done was not only against the law but actually theft and the bikes were returned within 20 minutes.

"We had the MD of the firm on the phone apologising,'' said Mr Kirkby.

Anyone wanting to contact Christians Against Poverty, or send a donation, canwrite to Freepost NEA 3201, Bradford, BD7 1BR.

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