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.

Director Simon Hodgson said: "With an ageing population more of us will care for loved ones - yet a blizzard of cuts to social care and benefits mean there is less and less support available.

"This is unacceptable and unsustainable," he said.

The carers allowance pays just £59.75 a week and requires claimants to spend at least 35 hours a week on unpaid caring - the equivalent of £1.67 an hour, barely a third of the legal minimum wage.

The charity's year-long study of 3,500 carers in 2013 found that 44 per cent had reported cutting back on basics like food, while 59 per cent were spending at least a tenth of their weekly budget on heating bills alone.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman declined to comment directly on the charity's proposals, but said Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith's "universal credit" project would allow carers to "keep more of their own money as they move into work."