Reports from a national charity last month suggested local people seeking help to clear their loans owed around £6,000.

But money advisers at Inverclyde Council — who have handled 400 new cases in 12 months — have now revealed that the true figure on the ground is double that.

In 66 per cent of cases advisers helped people to set up affordable repayment plans or adjust their finances.

But 12 per cent of residents who sought help were forced to declare themselves bankrupt.

In a report to councillors, officials said: “Debt trends are everchanging and tend to reflect current social issues such as the impact of welfare reforms and the uptake of pay day loans and low-paid workers who are experiencing pressure on their incomes as their wages remain fixed and their living costs rise steadily.” In January to March last year the council took on 79 new cases with problem debt amounting to £1 million.

From October to December 2014 there were a further 31 new cases. Council officials admit that a shortage of money advisers and a change of premises they operated from had reduced the number of people they were able to help.

The report read: “Inverclyde CHCP advice services money advisers provide comprehensive specialist advice and continuing support to clients to help them deal with their personal debt.

“Interventions show this is being addressed through their disposable income and affordable repayment plans, which accounts for 66 per cent of all strategies to deal with debt cases. This allows for conversations about income maximisation, budgeting, sensible spending and other ways in which the client can best manage their finances.” On average residents with problem debt owed £13,786.

A breakdown of cases from April 2013 to April 2014 showed that token payments were made in just over a third of cases, while 28 per cent opted for a debt payment plan and 12 per cent filed for sequestration.