David BaleThe national debt was on the agenda as a campaign group brought a giant clock displaying Britain's debt to the centre of Norwich.David Bale

The national debt was on the agenda as a campaign group brought a giant clock displaying Britain's debt to the centre of Norwich.

The Taxpayers' Alliance's seven metre long lorry-mounted digital clock, counting up the national debt at a speed of �5,168 per second, stopped outside The Forum yesterday morning as part of its 1,300 mile tour of the UK.

The Taxpayers' Alliance campaign director Mark Wallace said the clock started the UK tour on Monday, April 12, showing a national debt figure of �781,512,328,767 and by the time it reached Norwich, it had climbed to �788,210,958,904 - an increase of �6,698,630,137.

He said: 'You always hear politicians talking about spending billions of pounds, but you never see how much money that is until it's written up.

'People always ask us if the number on the clock is real, and when you say it is, their jaws drop.

'People see the figure and try to work out how much bigger it is than their salary. We have also been running a petition calling on all the main political parties to do something about the national debt.'

Norwich North Conservative candidate Chloe Smith was present for the visit.

The Taxpayers' Alliance is Britain's independent, non-partisan campaign for lower taxes and better services.