The wait for the results of a major survey into Medway’s debt problem has been branded “frustrating”.

It has now been more than a year since volunteers from the Citizens Advice Bureau began quizzing people about different forms of lending.

The controversial survey, backed by payday loan firm Wonga, was originally due to take six months. The aim was to find out why an increasing number of people in the Towns are getting into financial difficulties.

The link-up with the money lender caused a storm when it was announced last year. Labour leader Cllr Vince Maple was one of those who voiced concerns.

He said this week: “This is a massive issue for Medway and although we didn’t support who was co-sponsoring it, we support the principle. It’s a frustrating situation. We’re very interested as to the outcome.”

Cllr Maple said his party would be happy to offer support if the delay was due to a lack of resources.

In the survey, people were asked about a variety of lending products, including bank and credit cards, store cards and short-term loans.

Questions included how many credit cards people have, do they struggle with debt, would they benefit from financial literacy tests and their reasons for taking out loans.

Wonga provided technological support and paid for CAB employees to be trained by an independent research company.

Wonga offered to provide funding after building a relationship with the CAB, following a high-profile campaign two years ago in which workers chained themselves to a payday lender’s shop.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has vowed to put payday lenders like Wonga out of business by using the Church to build up Britain’s network of credit unions.

Justin Welby told Errol Damelin, chief executive of Wonga, he intended to make the lenders redundant by helping the financial co-operatives play a greater role in helping people with debt.

However, in an embarrassing twist for the archbishop, it has emerged that the church has invested around £100,000 in Wonga.

Medway Credit Union opened in its new home at the Pentagon Centre in Chatham this week.

Medway CAB has not commented on the survey delay.