The Evening Post took to Lancashire's streets to discover how big an effect the credit crunch is having on you.

Maureen Mallon, who runs the Garstang Cheese stall
"We compared this year's figures with last year's and there's been no downturn. Maybe it's because we are a cheese specialist and have quite a unique market."

Steve Thomas, 53, from Ingol
"I thought my pension was safe and then found my former employer had put money in Icelandic banks as well. Hopefully, the money is safe because my former colleagues are paying for it through their wages."

Gwen Richardson, 46, of Yew Tree Close, Garstang, a Barton Grange Garden Centre worker
"The only thing that I've noticed is the price of shopping. I've got two grown-up lads and it's an expense."

Ava Thomas, 55, Ingol
"You don't know where to put your money to keep it safe. I don't think there's anything safe any more.We put money away and then found we were losing money every week."

Joanne McGee, 29, of Walton-le-Dale, works for NHS in the community
"Food is a worry and petrol is a massive worry. We do get petrol paid but that amount hasn't particularly changed over the years. Someone did a visit on foot rather than using their car to make a point."

Keith Cornes, 72, of Garstang"The last one had a bigger impact on us than this one. When they closed Leyland Motors down, they made us all redundant. I didn't even get a week's wages. That was a proper squeeze on the economy with millions out of work. I have been ill ever since."

Karen Roberts, 35, of Fulwood
"Food prices have gone up and bills are 20 to 30%. But it hasn't really affected my household and I am still going out as much. I took my car off the road for four months as I couldn't afford my insurance and tax. My mortgage is a worry but that doesn't change until September next year."

Morris Jackson, 75, of Ingol
"The thing is I would never invest in anything with stocks and shares. There's a chance of losing it. That's the way I look at it."

Sylvia Jackson, 70, of Ingol
"I think the thing is not to panic. The people who are rich will be panicking more. In our case we are just comfortable and if things do go pear-shaped there's nothing we can do about it. A lot of it is greed, it's a throwaway world."

Mother-of-two Sarah Hurst (pictured holding Emma, three)
"I think it makes you more cautious because, long term, things are going up."

William Scott, 34, of Fulwood, independent financial advisor
"I am not worried about it. Everyone is panicking. Now is the time to buy, but the heating and bills does concern me but the underlying costs will come down sooner or later. It is likely to fall over the next few months."

David Wright, 53, of Blackpool, independent financial adviser
"We feel it has been media driven. It will come round. It is not half as bad as it is being portrayed in the media. And the cost of food is going to come down too. The price of oil has already nearly halved."

William Wallace, 48, of Hazelmere Road, Ashton
"Up to now, I seem to be carrying on as normal but if I had more children it might be a different story."

Jean Slater, of Cabus a worker at The Barn plant shop and gift centre, Scorton
"I think everybody is tightening their belts because of the uncertainty. My family's grown up now. Young families with a mortgage – I would think they are finding it pretty hard."

Dylan Hepworth, 40, from Freckleton"Not a thing, I'm quite wealthy."

Janet Huddlestone, from Chorley
said: "It makes you think twice if you were going to buy something big."

Mary Dowell, 72, Lancaster
"Well, it will affect us all in the long run, so I am worried about it. For me, it will be fuel bills, especially if we have a bad winter."

Alan Pearson, 60, Thornton Cleveleys
"Foodwise we are paying about 10 or 20% more. Everybody is feeling it. And my long term savings are going down rapidly. But I am upbeat as always, I think we have had it too good for too long."

Brian Naylor, 68, from Preston, has a plants stall on the market
"It might have affected me but I don't know if it has or not because I don't understand what it's all about. My wife does all the bills, so she might tell you different."

Jennifer Crompton, 56, from Bolton, has a card stall on the market"It doesn't really affect me with regards to a mortgage or anything like that. But the only way it has affected us is I think we are getting more people on the market, because they are choosing to shop for value. The past couple of weeks we have noticed."

Kevin Lonergan, 40, Preston, works for Galloways
"I am concerned. I have five children. We are penny pinching. We get through a loaf and a half of bread every day, and you find yourself going a bit further every time to get a bargain. In a positive way we haven't put the heating on yet. But you can't really see an end to this."

Brad Lennon, 40, Preston Big Issue seller
"I think the credit crunch is like any kind of economic slump, it affects everybody. It's called the trickle down effect so it effects everybody and it must be affecting me although I don't personally feel it as much because I make no money."

Paul Addison, 35, lives in Preston and runs a take away/cafe in Preston city centre
"I just think people are not spending as much money. They are not eating full breakfasts and pie meals, they are buying the cheaper option like a plate of chips or a slice of toast.They are coming in but they are not spending as much as they normally do."

Pat Fisher, 60, Ribbleton, Preston"In time, it will get worse. I put my heating on for one day yesterday because I got paid, but it doesn't matter though does it."

Alan Sheridan, 74, from the Ribble Valley
"What concerns me is our livelihood basically. At some stage it is going to affect our business, so ultimately it will affect our livelihood."

Peter Carter, 40, of Broughton, Preston
"It is not affecting me yet but there's always that possibility.I just think it's a joke in general about how much money all those people are on. My money is in property, so in the short term it is not good. We haven't put the heating on yet, so I suppose it affects us without realising it."

Keith Ellender, 64, Lytham St Annes, retired
"I don't know. I haven't heard anything from my financial adviser to say I'm in trouble, so at the moment I am keeping my fingers crossed. I haven't got a mortgage or anything like that so I'm not bothered about that, but I have some share ISAs."

Nick Eaves, 45, Blackpool, has two young children and works for the council maintenance dept
"You know, everything is going up and what we have found is, because items are going up so much, we are having to get the supermarket's own brands of things and they are not quite as good. It's everything really. Utility bills – I keep swapping that around, and I keep swapping my credit card around where there's 0%. But I have found with my credit card – my minimum payments have doubled now."

Imran Patel, 22, Preston, originally from Gujarat, has a clothes stall on the market
"Yes, everything is very expensive and our business is very quiet, the whole market is very quiet. I don't have a family but everything is expensive here, everyone is affected."

Kath Jenkins, 64, from Preston, has a fabrics stall on the market
"It's affecting everyone, pensions, all our pensions, savings. You daren't put your heating on. The market is far quieter. It's going to get worse."

For more reaction, see Tuesday's Lancashire Evening Post.

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