The astronomic fuel rises of 2006 hit Britain’s elderly people disproportionately the study finds, leaving them to take cold comfort from the moderate cuts introduced by suppliers this month.

Fuel bills are higher as a proportion of household income for elderly people, Economic Lifestyle claims, with a total spend of £717.60 per annum 21 per cent higher as a proportion of income among those aged between 65 and 74 than among the population as a whole.

Age directly correlates to fuel poverty, the study claims, with fuel bills commanding a massive 25 per cent of expenditure in households where the principal occupant is aged over 75.

“Most pensioners are on fixed incomes and the cost of paying rising energy bills takes a huge slice out of their income,” Economic Lifestyle’s managing director, Mark Neal, warned.

The study confirms the findings of a recent report from the Alliance Trust which drew attention to the burden of paying fuel bills on Britain’s older people.

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