And one in five is claiming housing benefit as thousands try to cope with the financial strain of redundancy and reduced hours.

There was a rise in the number of Northamptonshire residents claiming council tax benefit, from 45,680 in November last year to 50,340 in August this year.

An extra 4,120 people claimed housing benefit during the same period, taking the total to 40,640 claimants.

However, recent figures on job-seekers show the number of unemployed people in the north of the county is at its lowest since the start of the year.

Manager of Kettering Citizens Advice Bureau David Freeth said the number people wanted advice about employment-related concerns had doubled in the last 12 months.

He said: "We have seen a very large increase in inquiries and we are actively seeking new volunteers in response. We have now got more volunteers than we have ever had in the past – I think this is the busiest we have ever been.

"The number of people we are seeing about benefits and debt has risen by about 20 per cent. We are seeing people from all walks of life."

Latest Government figures show the number of people looking for work in north Northamptonshire fell by 286 to 8,104 in October.

For Kettering, Corby, and East Northamptonshire it was the lowest number since January this year.

In Wellingborough it is the lowest since February.

But Mr Freeth said CAB hadn't noticed any tail-off yet because sometimes there is a lag between someone being made redundant and seeking advice.

Robert Tustin, 56, of Newark Drive, Corby, is a builder but is struggling to find work and is currently claiming income support. He said: "It is humiliating to have to sign on but I know a lot of people in the same boat. I get £59.80 a week which doesn't go a long way. I would feel much better if I could do jobs for the community to earn that money."