Pensioners to 'live in one room'

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An estimated 2.5 million people resorted to the measure last year, but a study by the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership found the figure will increase to 4.5 million this winter.

The poll also found one in four older people now stay in bed to keep warm compared with one in seven last year. Half of those surveyed said they would be forced to turn down their heating this winter if they cannot meet their fuel costs.

The survey is part of a campaign between the charity and British Gas to help lift older people out of fuel poverty.

The partnership is calling for more Government help for the hardest hit families and to invest in programmes to give older people advice and practical assistance on benefits and energy efficiency measures.

The survey also found one in seven older people will use their savings to meet their fuel costs, with one in 10 saying they would cut back on essentials such as food or clothes.

Mervyn Kohler, a spokesman for the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership, said: "One in four older people are now estimated to be living in fuel poverty. For more vulnerable older people, this is an unacceptable situation.

"The Government has admitted that it won't meet its legal obligation for eradicating fuel poverty in vulnerable households by 2010.

"As half of all pensioners feel they will need to turn down their heating this winter to meet fuel costs, this is a damning indictment of the Government's approach to cutting fuel poverty and it is time that it started to take its targets seriously.

"Pensioners have said what would help them most this winter. Now it is time for the Government to step up and support them to prevent further misery and hardship."