AN ANGRY couple have hit out at banks and credit card firms who allowed their teenage daughter to borrow £25,000 she could not pay back - leaving her on the verge of suicide.

The girl was 18 and doing part-time work when she successfully applied for credit cards and a loan.

Her parents say she was suffering long-standing mental health problems at the time.

They plan to help her repay her debts but criticised the lenders involved.

They claimed one high street bank failed to contact a referee put forward by the girl which would have revealed she did not have the means to repay the money.

Another offered a loan on the basis of payslips from a casual job.

The couple, who live in Wyre Forest, hope publicising their daughter's plight might force lenders to improve their checking procedures and so prevent others ending up in the same situation.

The family contacted the Shuttle/Times and News after reading last week how debt across Wyre Forest has soared to record levels.

"We only found out how bad things were by opening her mail," said the girl's mother.

"By that stage she was so ill that she couldn't face what was happening and was planning to kill herself.

"I am angry because the banks refuse to take any responsibility for what's happened. But in my opinion they would have been responsible for my daughter's death if she had gone ahead with it."

Martin Lister, director of the Samaritans in Worcestershire, said anxiety about debt was a "highly significant factor" among those who contacted the service locally - and was on the increase.

"I think young people are particularly susceptible and are easily entrapped into debt."

Kidderminster CAB manager Kate Bennett said suicidal thoughts were "fairly common" among those in dire financial straits.

"This example does not surprise me. We have a client with a history of mental illness who will never be able to work but who was given loans and credit running into thousands of pounds.

"Nor does it surprise me that the checks made were lax - many of the high street lenders are careless. They are in the business of encouraging people to borrow from them."

She advised the parents involved not to take over the debts. "Families often mistakenly believe they are liable for a relative's debts."

l Wyre Forest CAB can be contacted on 01562 823953.

lWorcestershire Samaritans can be reached on 01905 21121.