Britons in serious debt are more likely to confide in family and friends than tell their partner the truth, according to new figures.

A YouGov survey for financial advisers Debt Free Direct found seven out of ten people hide their financial problems from their husband or wife and one in eight will not tell anyone about a debt problem, keeping their financial burden to themselves.

The organisation suggests one reason people hide debt is that they are terrified of breaking the news to their partner but keeping a loved one in the dark can have serious implications as some financial commitments such as a mortgage will directly affect both parties.

"Many people don't realise that debts in their sole name can affect their partner," said Andrew Redmond, chief executive of Debt Free Direct.

"A property owned by a bankrupt will probably be sold to pay off creditors, meaning the loss of the family home. Partners also share liability for any debts in joint names, such as credit agreements or shared overdrafts even if they were unaware of the scale of the problem."

Mr Redmond went on to say that often couples who openly share financial details are more likely to seek help earlier and avoid more serious repercussions such as bankruptcy or losing a property.