Complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service totalled 8341 in the first quarter, up by 7% on the previous quarter and 4% on the corresponding period last year.

General insurance cases contributed to the rise, growing 7% on the previous quarter to 2171 complaints.

The service says 8584 disputes were closed, flat compared with the previous quarter but up 10% on the corresponding period last year.

Of these, 64% were resolved through an agreement between the financial services provider and the consumer.