A new study has identified the UK areas where residents are struggling most with unmanageable debt, with Halton in Cheshire emerging as the most financially stressed location.
The research analysed official government data on insolvency rates, bankruptcies, debt relief orders, individual voluntary arrangements, and breathing space registrations across 84 UK areas to create a comprehensive debt score for each location. According to the study, the national average debt score was 2.78.
Top 10 UK areas with the most unmanageable debt
| Rank | Area | Total debt score out of 10 | Point difference from the national average debt score |
| 1 | Halton | 8.57 | +5.79 |
| 2 | Blackpool | 6.71 | +3.93 |
| 3 | Kingston upon… |