A leading debt charity has called on prospective MPs in Waltham Forest to help the hundreds of people in financial trouble.

In the last two years, over 1,000 residents have sought help from National Debtline, although hundreds more are believed to be “suffering in silence”.

Walthamstow is in the top 20 per cent of parliamentary constituencies in Britain for families facing debt crisis, while Leyton and Wanstead is in the top 30.

Chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, Joanna Elson, is calling on prospective members of parliament to consider these figures heading into the election.

She said: “Whoever is elected as Member of Parliament for Walthamstow and Leyton and Wanstead on May 7 needs to put promoting free debt advice in the area near the top of their to-do list after the general election.

“We know that potentially thousands more are suffering in silence.”