Wirral Council has acted to block access to websites offering payday loans on its public computers.

From this week, all council computers in libraries and other buildings will be blocked from accessing the websites of lenders who offer short, unsecured loans with very high rates of interest.

The action traces a similar path being taken by neighbouring Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester councils.

Cheshire East was the first English local authority to act against the lenders, echoing a similar move by town halls in Dundee and Renfrewshire.

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Phil Gilchrist has been campaigning for Wirral to follow suit.

Last month, Eastham ward councillor Gilchrist wrote to Wirral Council’s chief executive Graham Burgess calling on him to take a lead in instigating the website block.

Councillor Gilchrist said at the time: “By following this practical step I hope that we will help people who risk being taken for a ride and stop them ending up on a treadmill of debt.”

Councillor Chris Meaden, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “This action will prevent literally hundreds of sites which offer dangerous, unsecured loans from being accessed from our computer network.

“We are one of the first councils to take action to restrict access to these sites, which prey on people who are desperate and seeking help. This is only the first step in tackling this problem."

Earlier this year, the Office of Fair Trading published a highly-critical report into payday lenders, stating they fail to work out whether people can afford the loans and engage in aggressive debt collection practices.