By Charlotte Beugge

Reckless Brits flashed their plastic typically 267 times last year - racking up spending of more than £17,000, according to a report from Skipton Building Society.

Credit cards weren't only used for luxuries or big items, but for day-to-day expenses such as paying bills. A third admitted they used their cards more last year than before.

Food and petrol accounted for the biggest proportion of credit card spending - £2,690 on 25 food shopping trips and £2,233 filling up the car 23 times. But spending on drink accounted for £492, spread over 12 trips.

Fourteen nights out resulted in £761 added to the credit card and holidays accounted for £1,392 on the bill. More than £874 was spent on clothes and £527 just on shoes.

Unexpected bills such as car expenses accounted for £703 - but these are just the kind of bills credit cards are really meant for. Medical expenses including medicine and trips to the dentist cost £418 - and the average cardholder also put £512 on their credit card for travelling to work costs.

Skipton says the average person interviewed says they have started this year owing £2,271 on their credit card, but nearly half aren't worried about this debt.

However, if they leave this amount sitting on a credit card with a typical interest rate of 17% and pay back just the minimum each month, it will take 24 years and 11 months to pay back the £2,271 - and there will be interest of £2,812.

If they continue spending on the card too, what might now seem a small debt could soon spiral out of control.