The number of people declaring themselves bankrupt fell in Bedfordshire in the second three months of 2008 - bucking the national trend of financial woe.

Between April and June 147 people across the county declared themselves bankrupt, compared to 171 in the previous three months.

That meant a 14 per cent fall in Bedfordshire, compared to a four per cent increase nationally.

In Bedford there was a 19 per cent drop, from 48 people declaring themselves bankrupt from January to March, to 39 doing so in April-June.

And there was a 12 per cent fall in Luton, from 123 cases to 108.

Mark Sands, spokesman for financial services firm KPMG in the East of England, said: "Consumers are faced with a barrage of bad news with no sign of a respite. For some, the desperate step of selling their home looks a forlorn hope in a property market which has almost ground to a halt.

"While many individuals will decide to take formal steps to deal with their over indebtedness in the months ahead, driving personal insolvencies higher, many others may be able to take advantage of informal arrangements and tighter budgeting to avoid the worst effects of over indebtedness.

"The message to everyone in difficulty is to take advice on all the options and then act on it."