Business Debtline, the free, independent advice service for small and micro businesses, is warning that there are many thousands more small businesses across the UK struggling with their debts, on top of the figures released last week showing a a rise in company insolvencies.

Last year Business Debtline spoke to a record number of small business owners and directors. In all, Business Debtline advisers answered nearly 38,000 calls – a highest number in the service’s history – from 26,000 small businesses, of which 6,181 had debts of over £50,000.

Nicola Connop, spokesperson for Business Debtline, said: “Our team of advisers speak to thousands of struggling small businesses every month. Many of these businesses have been hit by the tough economic climate