TRADING standards officers in Bury have made a new call to keep consumer debt under control in the countdown to Christmas.

As part of National Consumer Week, which is being run from November 12 to16 by the Trading Standards Institute, officers in the town aim to help people steer clear of serious financial worries by persuading them to think hard before signing up for credit.

Currently consumer debt, including mortgages, in the UK stands at over £700 billion.