The number of Keighley residents going bankrupt is hitting its highest peak in a long time.

The alarming information is from the town's Citizen's Advice Bureau, which said the number of people filing for bankruptcy in the area was increasing.

Many people are feeling the credit-crunch from over-spending at Christmas.

Pauline Barnett, from the Citizen's Advice Bureau, said that in 2007, especially towards the end of the year, the financial advisors were always very busy.

She said: "We always have full appointments, put it that way.

"There are four debt workers here and our diaries are always full."

However, she said the financial trend appeared to be a problem across the Bradford district and was not just limited to Keighley.

She said: "We are doing more bankruptcy cases every day, we are advising a lot more people on that. We make appointments at Bradford County Court for people filing for bankruptcy and towards the end of last year people were having to wait about a month for an appointment.

"But this will be from across the Bradford area."

For those seeking advice on financial difficulty, the Keighley Citizen's Advice Bureau, in the Library Annexe, in Spencer Street, can be contacted on 01535 680012.

Self-help information and advice on debt can also be accessed online by visiting adviceguide.org.uk.