Britons are increasingly struggling to manage their financial commitments, a new report from Datamonitor shows, and the firm predicts that things are going to get worse as lending requirements tighten.

The number of Britons denied credit by the main lenders stood at seven million last year, but this will rise to 8.6 million by 2011, the research suggests.

Previously, the number of individuals refused a loan had been falling for several years, but that all changed in 06, making it even more important for those with poor credit to seek out a mortgage broker if they want to stand a chance of sidestepping their bad credit score.

"While it is important to remain aware of the fact that bad debt indicators remain, for the time being, at low levels, they nevertheless point to consumers struggling in an economic climate that is now tougher than in previous years," the report highlights.

And it seems help is even more pressing for the 2.5 million Britons who, according to research from unbiased.co.uk, have no idea exactly how much debt they're currently in.

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