Millions of people across Britain could be facing severe financial strain after Christmas, according to a leading Christian debt charity.

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) warned that rising bills combined with festive spending have left many households under intense pressure, which has prompted the launch of its “Break the Debt Blues” campaign to connect people with free, face-to-face debt help.

CAP’s chief executive, Stewart Mcculloch, said the early weeks of the year are especially difficult, describing the period as one where financial anxiety becomes “acute” for many families.

According to CAP, more than 15 million people in the UK experience daily anxiety about money.

McCulloch said the charity wanted people to know they were not alone, adding that personal support allowed advisers to “sit down, chat, and properly understand what you are going through”.

The campaign encouraged people struggling with debt to seek local help through CAP’s trained debt specialists, who work directly with clients to organise finances and develop realistic plans. McCulloch said face-to-face support was vital for those overwhelmed by unopened bills or unsure where to begin.

Research commissioned by CAP last year suggested almost a quarter of people in Britain, 23 per cent, had received support from a church or Christian organisation at some point, most commonly food aid.

Sharon, who received help from CAP, said the charity transformed her life. She said she was a mother with young children and “thousands of pounds in debt” before contacting CAP’s helpline. After receiving local support, she said her situation changed completely.

Since then, Sharon has organised drop-in sessions at her local CAP debt centre, to help others facing similar financial hardship.