The number of people in debt in Dundee is spiralling out of control, according to a leading charity.
StepChange said it had been contacted by 56% more cash-strapped people in 2014 compared to 2012.
The average amount owed by the 383 Dundonians who contacted them for help was £12,076.
Mike O’Connor, chief executive of StepChange Debt Charity, said: “More and more families in the Dundee area are falling into debt and struggling to make ends meet.
“For those living on the edge of their financial means, taking control of the situation can seem a daunting, if not impossible, prospect, but taking positive steps towards tackling debt is crucial to getting back on your feet.
“We urge those who are worried about their debt problems to seek free confidential advice as soon as possible,” Mr O’Connor added.
In 2014, 383 financially-crippled Dundonians contacted the charity.
That compares with 333 in 2013 and 246 in 2012.
The charity also reported that household budgets in the city have shown a slight improvement, with those contacting the charity from the Dundee area an average of £12 better off than the previous year.
An average person in Dundee had only £39 left to put towards their debts after covering their essential household bills each month, according to the charity.
The figures are released as part of the charity’s Debt Awareness Week 7 Days, 7 Ways campaign which is aimed at helping people to get control of their finances and start tackling their debt problems by taking steps such as creating a comprehensive household budget and opening all correspondence from creditors.
The Courier recently revealed how a third of those who contacted another Tayside debt charity had considered suicide because of their crushing debts.
A survey commissioned by StepChange found that more than 1.8 million adults in Scotland do not have a household budget.
Last year, shocking figures revealed that almost 50% of Courier Country residents are being accepted for credit cards charging more than 25% interest rates.
In the DD postcode area, which covers Dundee and parts of Angus, 48.8% of those applying for high-interest cards were accepted.
The Citizens Advice Bureau Scotland insisted that there is an alternative to high-interest credit, which can cause spiralling debt.
“There are other lenders around who will charge you less and be more sympathetic if you get into difficulty with the repayments,” a spokesman for the charity said