EXCLUSIVE by ADAM LAZZARI A BANKRUPTCY declaration is made by someone living in the Wisbech area nearly every other day. Records on the London Gazette website show that 178 people living in or around Wisbech have declared themselves bankrupt since August

EXCLUSIVE by ADAM LAZZARI

A BANKRUPTCY declaration is made by someone living in the Wisbech area nearly every other day.

Records on the London Gazette website show that 178 people living in or around Wisbech have declared themselves bankrupt since August 3 last year.

Linda Hutchinson, from Fenland Citizens Advice Bureau, said: "These are clearly shocking figures. Bankruptcy is a national problem which is more prominent in Wisbech and the Fens than it is most parts of the country. Many people can't cope with the high cost of housing and a lot of people from the area work in Cambridge. Public transport is not good from Wisbech so you need a good, reliable car and to pay for a lot of petrol to do that trip every day."

She added: "Irresponsible lenders are rife and they have a lot to answer for. People are desperate to get on the housing market and many lenders willingly lend too much money to people who clearly can't afford it."

A student, pensioner, project manager, postman, civil servant, estate agent, dinner lady and business owners have all declared themselves bankrupt in Wisbech in the last year.

Records show several bankruptcy claims from unemployed people. This may be because no occupation is listed on their claim.

Mrs Hutchinson said: "I've seen people from all walks of life declaring bankruptcy, some even in their early 20s. Getting credit is so easy and it seems if a lender says to them 'do you want £10,000?' they just say 'yes.' At the other end of the scale people approaching retirement age borrow money and don't think about how they will pay it back when they are on a pension.

"I don't blame individuals; they are just behaving in a way that is deemed acceptable in modern society."

She added: "Many people see bankruptcy as an easy option and they think that starting again is the best way to get out of trouble. But several people who do this will never be able to get a mortgage. I strongly advise anyone in financial difficulty to fully consider all of their options before they declare themselves bankrupt.