Public sector workers across Scotland have amassed multi-million pound debts and the vast majority of them live in the Glasgow area.

Debt solutions firm Carrington Dean today lifted the lid on the financial nightmare facing hundreds of their clients who have created a debt mountain of £4.3 million.

That’s the startling figure generated by public sector workers who have turned to the firm for help. It includes credit cards and hire purchase agreements as well as secured and unsecured loans but not mortgage arrears.

From teachers to nurses Carrington Dean’s debt solution specialists have been trying to tackle the crippling finances which dog their public sector clients.

The group most in trouble is council workers – teachers account for 16% of the total, while one in 10 is a nurse. The profile of a typical debtor is a mother who lives in her own home and has a job.

Seven out of 10 of the workers live in the Glasgow area. Almost a fifth have been the subject of court action or had wages arrested by creditors. Council workers may be the worst offenders but NHS staff are a close second.

Dozens owe at least £75,000 but some have racked up debts of more than £100,000. The average figure for the public sector is £27,132 – £5000 higher than other employee groupings.

Peter Dean is managing director of Carrington Dean, one of Scotland’s biggest debt solution firms and based in Buchanan Street, Glasgow.

He said: “These levels of debt are very disturbing and perhaps go some way to explaining some of the high levels of stress and absenteeism in the public sector. I would encourage local authorities to seek ways of trying to help employees with crippling debt.”

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities pointed out some councils operated credit unions while most offered counselling services.

“There is no difference between council staff and everyone else,” said a spokesman. “Help is offered to everyone.”