Nearly half of all Mancunians are seriously in debt, with many at least three months behind on bills, new figures show.

The Money Advice Service found 41 per cent of people in Manchester were classed as 'over-indebted', with many finding their debts 'a heavy burden'.

Students, young workers, families with parents on low wages and families reliant on benefits were found to be the hardest hit groups in Manchester.

The data also showed gas and electricity bills were people's biggest burden, with 80 per cent struggling to keep up payments.

The shocking figure puts Manchester third highest in the country for levels of serious personal debt, classed as having fallen at least three months behind on bills in the last six months.

Manchester Citizen's Advice Bureau say debt queries make up 17 per cent of all people seeking their help – but that cases of people owing money to payday lenders is up 9,000 per cent.

One man recently seeking help at a CAB office in Manchester had 17 different payday loans with 15 different companies.

The organisation says on average people seeking debt advice owe £12,000 – a third of which was leaving them close to losing their home, being cut off from energy suppliers or being sent to prison.

Nationally only Kingston-upon-Hull and Nottingham have higher personal debt levels than Manchester, at 43 and 41.2 per cent respectively.

Across the rest of Greater Manchester, Salford had the second highest levels of serious debt, at 36 per cent of people – making it the 15th highest in the country.

Stockport had the lowest levels of personal debt in Greater Manchester, at 14 per cent.

The lowest levels of personal debt nationally was in Kingston-upon-Thames, at just 1.2 per cent.

The Money Advice Service, which offers free and impartial financial advice, carried out the research to highlight levels of debt and the numbers of people in need of advice.

Percentage of people at least three months behind on bills:

Manchester 41%

Salford 36%

Rochdale 31%

Bolton 29%

Wigan 29%

Oldham 28%

Bury 21%

Trafford 15 %

Stockport 14%