Loans and overdrafts at 10 year low

Households have cut back sharply on personal loans and overdrafts, leaving them at the lowest level for 10 years according to the latest snapshot of lending from Britain's banks.

They've also been trying to save more in the face of worrying economic prospects.

Family budgets have been coming under heavy strain as incomes stagnate and inflation increases - and there's the fear of job losses.

So people have been busily repaying personal loans and overdrafts, to the tune of £200m in the last month alone.

And they're attempting to save more -- total savings are up more than 8 billion pounds so far in 2011.

But that's a smaller increase than last year as the rising cost of living soaks up spare cash.