Use of credit cards is rising among consumers around the UK even as borrowing is becoming more difficult, according to a recent study.

Figures compiled by Fool.co.uk have shown that close to a third of all Britons now use their credit card for the purchase of everyday items and that older generations tend to prefer paying in cash.

Reflecting on the findings of the research, David Kuo, head of personal finance at Fool.co.uk, suggested that the growth in credit card use is symptomatic of the increasing ease with which Britons use debt.

"Plastic can be fantastic but relying on money we can’t see is a reflection of how easy it has been to rely on credit in recent years," Mr Kuo remarked.

Meanwhile, figures released recently by unbiased.co.uk showed that it takes around 70 days of work for people in the UK to meet the interest repayment demands on their collective debts.