HEAT IS ON TO PAY THE BILLS

SPIKE IN CALLS FOR HELP OVER 5 YEARS

- BY CHRIS MCCALL

A RISING number of Scots are seeking help with energy debt due to the soaring price of gas and electricity, a leading charity has warned.

Citizens Advice Scotland said 65 per cent more people were asking for its help with the issue than five years ago.

It comes as the average energy debt across the country has reached £2500 per household.

But rural Scots are hardest hit, with average energy debts reaching £3180.

Research shared with the Record by energy giant Utilita also found 18 per cent of Scots plan to rely solely on an electric heater this winter instead of gas central heating - despite the devices costing four times more for an average day's use.

It comes after Ofgem last week put the size of UK-wide domestic debt at £4.4billion as of June. But industry chiefs predict it will top £5billion by the close of 2025.