Britain's soaring cost of living has plunged nearly half of Scotland's carers into debt, with new figures spurring calls to boost "unacceptable" welfare payments.

Around 650,000 people in Scotland routinely give unpaid care to disabled, frail or seriously ill friends or family, according to official estimates - with a sixth aged under 24.

But Carers Scotland warned yesterday that welfare cuts like the bedroom tax had plunged 47 per cent of unpaid carers into debt, with one in six more than £10,000 in the red.