Nearly half feel savings becoming less safe

The exclusive poll carried out by ICM Research on behalf Channel 4 News, shows that 45% of people now feel less safe than they had done previously, and only 6% feel more financially secure, a massive decline in confidence.

One in six of those surveyed have either withdrawn savings from banks and building societies already, or are seriously considering doing so, a total of 16% of those canvassed. This is not really surprising given the daily news bulletins at present, although this survey was done on the day the £500m bailout was announced, so current confidence may be even lower.

The poll also showed that women are more pessimistic than men.