A DEBT advice service faces the axe because of budget funding cuts, despite figures showing that the number of residents using the service has soared in the last year.

The Financial Inclusion Fund project, offered by the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), is designed to help people manage their finances better as they battle debt.

Last year the service in Hambleton, Richmondshire and Ripon helped more than 360 people, with an average debt of more than £18,000 each, totalling £6.5m.

Now staff at the centre fear the service will be lost as government budget cuts start to take hold in April.

A spokeswoman for the service urged people to contact their local MP to support the further application of CAB debt funding advice in the area.

She said: "The imminent loss of this service will be a great blow to the local rural communities over the wide areas which it covers, as money advice can help prevent debt ruining lives.

"The bureaux have up to a six week wait for specialist debt advice due to the great demand for the service, although many clients benefit from emergency debt advice which can be given at very short notice."

Figures show that in recent weeks the Financial Inclusion Fund project has dealt with clients aged between 20 and 76 years old, with debts of between £700 to £190,000, and with monthly household incomes ranging from £200 to £5,000.