By KUNA,

London : The number of people facing bankruptcy in the UK climbed in the first quarter of this year, official figures showed Friday.

A total of 13,080 people applied for bankruptcy during the first quarter of the year, up 12 percent compared to the previous three months, according to the figures released by the British Ministry of Justice.

There was also a six percent rise, to 4,851, in the number of creditor bankruptcy petitions during the first quarter, which are launched by people who are owed money. And 2,965 companies were facing winding up petitions, up three percent from the previous quarter and the third successive quarterly rise.

The combined data provides the latest indication that more people and businesses are finding it harder to make ends meet this year amid soaring household bills, economists said.

Last week first quarter figures showed the number of people facing home repossession rose to its highest level for 16 years.

The economists added that they were expecting to see further rises in the bankruptcy figure this year.