3.2m pensioners live in fuel poverty

FOOD PRICE INFLATION AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN 18 MONTHS

- By Katie Harris

AT LEAST 12.1 million UK homes are in fuel poverty, with 3.2million of them occupied by pensioners, analysis shows.

The figures relate to households that spend more than 10% of their income on energy bills.

Older people are the worst hit, including almost 964,000 in "deep fuel poverty", where 20% of their income goes on fuel. Renters and people with children are next.

Campaigners warn the public cannot take any more price rises ahead of another hike expected when regulator Ofgem announces the latest cap tomorrow.

Simon Francis, of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: "Fuel poverty is still with us and these figures highlight how vital schemes like the Warm Home Discount are.

"But we are now approaching the fifth winter of the energy bills crisis and the time for tinkering with the price cap is over.