A KEIGHLEY church has opened a debt counselling centre.

Free help is being offered to anyone stuck in the debt trap.

Behind the initiative are St Mark's Utley with Keighley Shared Church and Bradford-based charity, Christians Against Poverty (CAP).

The new service is an expansion of an award-winning venture which has two other busy centres, helping people in Bradford and Skipton.

Anyone living in BD20, BD21 and BD22 postcode areas can now access the help.

Keighley centre manager Duncan Green said: "The church has always been about offering hope and we're really pleased to be able to give a tried-and-tested route out of debt, alongside other great free debt advice in the area such as Citizen's Advice.

"There is a lot in the Bible about looking after the poorest.

"In our society, a lot of poverty is debt-related so our congregation has been working hard to open a CAP centre to help get people back on track.

"Our aim, together with other local churches, is to show that God loves and cares for the people of Keighley.

"CAP offers people a uniquely in-depth, caring service to people with spiralling personal debt regardless of their age, gender, faith or background."

He says every client is visited in their own home.

The charity carries out all negotiating with creditors, and volunteers offer face-to-face support until the client is debt free.

Mr Green added: "Statistics show that one in three callers seeking debt help feel suicidal but find huge relief through the non-judgemental service that treats every person as an individual.

"Typically, debts can build up when a relationship breaks down, or someone loses their job, or through illness or bereavement – so often when people are least able to cope with a financial headache.

"We’re just so pleased to be able to partner the care of our church with the financial expertise of CAP's head office in Bradford."

Poverty appears to have soared across Keighley in recent years, with food banks and mobile soup kitchens seeing a massive increase in demand for their services.

Rising numbers of families, as well as individuals, have been helped by several charities offering provision.

CAP was set up in 1996 when founder John Kirkby gave up a successful career in consumer finance to help people out of poverty associated with unman-ageable debt.

It has grown into a international charity with a vision to have a CAP Debt Centre, opened in partnership with a local church, in every town and city across the UK.

It also has centres in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Visit capuk.org or call 0800 328 0006 for more details about the new centre.