Families hit by the credit crunch have been offered a helping hand in balancing the books.

Officers from Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards department have been running a display offering advice about personal finances on the city’s estates.

The display tells people worried about debt how to plan for the month ahead – and where to get help if they have become involved with loan sharks.

Budget planners, for people to write a list of their monthly outgoings and income, have also been handed out.

Anu Prashar, team leader of the trading standards community engagement team, said: “We are putting up the display because of today’s economic climate.

“People are feeling they need to tighten their reins at the moment, and are thinking about where they are spending their money.

“That is why the budget planner is quite good. It makes you focus on standard outgoings you can’t cut, like council tax and TV licence bills, and areas where you can cut down.”

The credit and debt display has already been staged in neighbourhood centres at Wood Farm, Rose Hill and Barton.

It is now at Blackbird Leys Community Centre in Blackbird Leys Road and will move on to Banbury, Wood Farm, and Kidlington.

Ms Prashar said: “We are putting it up throughout Oxfordshire, but concentrating on areas that have been highlighted to be areas of deprivation.”

One of the items on the display shows an advert for a car which can be bought on credit.

Ms Prashar said that after reading the small print of the advert it became apparent to any buyer that you would actually end up paying twice the value of the car because of the interest on repayments.

She said officers were also available to talk to people in person.

The display will be at Blackbird Leys Community Centre until Monday, before moving on to Banbury.

It will be at Wood Farm Community Centre, Titup Hall Drive, from March 16-23 and the Midcounties Co-op, Kidlington, from March 23-26.

ghamilton@oxfordmail.co.uk