THE impact of the recession on the poorest and most vulnerable members of society is "about to get worse before it gets better".

The warning, from Citizens Advice Scotland chief executive Kaliani Lyle, came as new figures revealed a significant spike in demand for its services during the 2008/9 financial year.

The number of cases passing through Citizens' Advice Bureau offices in Scotland was up 10% compared with the previous year, including a 16% surge in inquiries about debt from new clients.

Overall, debt problems now account for 28% of the issues dealt with by bureaux volunteers.

There was also a 13% increase in employment-related cases, and a 10% jump in benefit queries.

Ms Lyle urged delegates not to fall for premature hype about "the green shoots of recovery".

She said: "While this may be true, our advisers deal every day with the people who are suffering at the rough end of this recession.

"Debt, redundancy, housing problems, concerns about benefits, legal issues: all of these are going through the roof because the most vulnerable people in society are seeing their incomes fall, while prices rise and credit sources dry up. And for them, it is about to get worse before it gets better."