A debt charity said the average unsecured level of debt of Bradford people contacting its helpline was on course to fall, according to 2012 figures.

New figures compiled by the StepChange Debt Charity show that for the first nine months of 2012 the average StepChange Debt Charity client in Bradford owed £15,073. In 2011 the average amount owed was £16,144.

This matches the trend of falling debt levels nationally.

In the first three-quarters of 2012 the StepChange Debt Charity advised 762 people in Bradford regarding their debt problems. In 2011, the total number was 1,014.

The charity is also continuing to advise consumers about the dangers of debt consolidation and recommending the benefits of debt management.

Its research shows that people who consolidate their debts often return to using other forms of credit and can end up with even higher levels of borrowing.

The charity is urging anyone struggling with debt to seek help from the charity which will draw up a detailed household budget and advise them on the most appropriate debt management solution.

Delroy Corinaldi, external affairs director of the StepChange Debt Charity, said: “To anyone struggling financially, debt consolidation can seem to offer a quick fix, but borrowing more is rarely a good way to deal with a debt problem.

“We would encourage anyone struggling with problem debt to immediately seek free and impartial help.”