Hector Sants: Church 'right' to help those in debt

The Church does have a role to play in helping those in debt, the former head of the Financial Services Authority has said.

Sir Hector Sants, who chairs the Church of England's task group on credit unions, said a new scheme providing an alternative to payday lenders was "wholly right."

The Church Credit Champions Network (CCCN) is launching in three pilot areas: the dioceses of London, Southwark and Liverpool.

Sir Hector told BBC Radio 5 live's Wake Up to Money that it was "no doubt" that the Church should get involved as debt was a "major cause of social distress."