As the credit crunch begains to bite and debt problems multiply Norfolk County Council is launching a package of advice for those in financial difficulties.

As the credit crunch begains to bite and debt problems multiply Norfolk County Council is launching a package of advice for those in financial difficulties.

With some means of obtaining credit having dried up and unemployment on the rise nationally, the average person now contacting the Norwich and West Norfolk Citizens Advice Bureau for expert debt advice is �38,000 in debt.**

The average priority debt, balances owed to various creditors at the point of contact with CAB, that must be paid above all other debts, such as mortgages and rent, of those looking for help has also doubled over the last two years from �1800 to around �4000.

The council is launching a website - to guide residents to the right places to turn to for help and advice.

The site, www.norfolk.gov.uk/debtandmoneyadvice , provides listings of which organisations are available at both a local, and national, level to provide debt advice. The site provides phone numbers, websites, and e-mail addresses, and breaks down organisations which specifically are more focussed at dealing with older residents, young people, and those who deal with general advice to any age group.

It also provides details of where to seek housing support, legal advice, and also contains details of what credit unions are, and how to go about borrowing money from them.

The website also contains details of a number of debt management workshops that the County Council's Adult Education service will be running for free in Norwich, Cromer, Dereham and Great Yarmouth over the coming months.

The workshops will be run by a tutor with an extensive finance and economics background, and are aimed at helping people to budget, cut bills and resolve debt problems.