WORCESTER'S MP is pushing the Chancellor to help expand credit unions - saying they go a long way to keeping people out of debt.

Robin Walker wants George Osborne to beef up the growing credit union expansion programme around the country - calling for a "stronger savings culture".

Since being re-elected last May the Conservative said one of his main priorities would be keeping people away from predatory loan sharks and payday lenders, having seen the damage sky-high interest rates can do.

In recent years many desperate Worcester people have turned up at his surgeries in debt, due to them taking out too much.

Mr Osborne took part in a Treasury question and answer session in parliament with MPs, where Mr Walker jumped in.

He said: "Credit unions can play a vital role in improving financial inclusion and creating a stronger savings culture.

"As I know from my work with the all-party credit unions group, they have support in all parts of the House of Commons.

"With the opportunity of the World Council of Credit Unions coming to the UK, to Northern Ireland, later this year, will the Chancellor commit to making sure we continue to build on the work of the credit union expansion programme and back this vital group?"

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, the current City Minister who works underneath Mr Osborne in the Treasury, answered the question on his behalf.

She told MPs the Government has sunk £38 million into helping new credit unions expand or open up around the UK, but that more help will be on its way.

She said: " My other constituency neighbour (Mr Walker) is a fine advocate for the excellent credit unions industry.

"As he will know, we have backed the industry with £38 million of investment through the credit union expansion project, and we will continue to seek ways to back credit unions."

A credit union called Six Towns expanded into Worcester in late 2013 and has an office in Lowesmoor.

That followed the demise of Black Pear Savings and Loans, which went bust in 2011 after customers ran off without paying their money back.

Castle & Crystal, another union which started back in 1993 to help council workers in Dudley, the Black Country, now also covers Worcester after it expanded in 2014.