£27 down a month

OLDHAMERS are £27 a month worse off than they were last year according to a new report.

Figures released by charity StepChange show that people contacting the debt-management organisation were struggling to cover basic living costs, let alone credit card and other expenses.

StepChange helped 890 people in the Oldham area in 2012, compared with 844 in 2011.

Last year residents owed an average of £13,297, compared with the national average of £15,547.