The number of adults in Yorkshire toying with the idea of taking out payday loans has doubled, according to latest figures.

Insolvency trade body R3 said 6% of adults in the region say they are likely to take out a payday loan in the next six months – compared with 3% who were in that position in June, 2013.

Nationally, 6% of adults said they were likely to take out a payday loan in the next six months – down from 7% last time.

However, payday loan demand in Yorkshire has fallen significantly since its peak of 12% in April, 2012.

Chris Wood, Yorkshire R3 vice-chairman and partner at Clough Corporate Solutions in Cleckheaton, said: “While it’s encouraging that demand for payday loans is falling nationally, it is worrying that there appears to have been a recent increase in likely demand in the region.

“The negative publicity and high profile interventions on the topic from politicians have not had so much of an impact here as they have elsewhere.”

The Britons most likely to take out a payday loan in the next six months are those aged between 18 and 34, the survey found.

Some 13% of those in this age group say they are likely to take out a payday loan in the next six months – although this is down from 17% in last June and 24% last September.

By comparison, only 4% of British adults aged 35 and over say they are likely to take out a payday loan in the next six months.

Mr Wood said: “It is still a matter of concern that payday loans are disproportionately attractive to younger generations.

“It may be that other sources of finance, such as traditional bank loans, aren’t available to these age groups, many of whom will not have had a chance to build up a decent credit rating. High-cost credit shouldn’t be the only option.

“While payday or other high-interest loans are appropriate in some circumstances, they are not appropriate for all borrowers or in all circumstances.

It’s very important that the payday loan industry takes greater responsibility to explain to borrowers not only the initial cost of taking out a loan, but all potential costs too, including the costs of loan ‘rollovers’ or late payment charges.”

The number of people actually taking out payday loans has remained consistent, with 5% of British adults saying that they have taken out a payday loan in the last six months, the same as in June.