FAMILIES struggling with financial pressure have been given lifelines totalling more than £28m in the past decade by a Stockton-based social enterprise.

Five Lamps has also saved customers £15m in interest compared to doorstep and other expensive sub-prime lenders.

And to mark the support and savings made over the past ten years, the charity has now joined forces with other ethical lenders across the UK to create an online portal to help people reach affordable loans.

Chief executive officer Graeme Oram, said: “Demand for loans has reached record levels as household debt spirals and people are not able to access affordable credit. We want to help people break free from a cycle of debt in an affordable way and ensure those caught up in high-cost borrowing are not shut out from the best interest rates when they need it most.”

People now can go directly to the specialist financial website by visiting www.affordableloans.credit