Bankruptcy figures have climbed by 12% in the first three months of the year, the first increase in more than 12 months, official figures show.

A total of 13,080 people applied for bankruptcy during the first quarter of this year - well below the 15,100 level seen for the same period in 2007.

The Ministry of Justice figures also show a 6% rise, to 4,851, in the number of creditor bankruptcy petitions during the first quarter, which are launched by people who are owed money.

And 2,965 companies were facing winding up petitions, up 3% from the previous quarter and the third successive quarterly rise.

The combined data provides the latest indication that more people and businesses are finding it harder to make ends meet amid this year's soaring household bills.

Earlier this month, first quarter figures showed that the number of people facing home repossession had risen to its highest level for 16 years. And the number of people declared insolvent rose during the same period to 25,264.

Howard Archer, chief UK economist of Global Insight, said he was expecting to see further rises in the bankruptcy figure this year. "It's a trend that I would expect to continue going forward," he said.

"The economy was still growing in the first quarter of last year and it was really only late last year and so far this year that it has started to slow markedly."

Home energy bills have risen by up to a fifth this year, while petrol prices have also increased by about 25% during the past 12 months. Homeowners renewing their mortgages over recent months have also faced big hikes in costs after a rise in interest rates last year.

There have been calls for lenders such as banks and building societies to do more for homeowners struggling to meet their repayments.

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