'Dreadful consequences', charity warns, as UK's cold snap worsens

People are dealing with “dreadful consequences”, a charity has warned, as elements of the UK face plummeting temperatures.

The Met Office has issued a number of yellow climate warnings for snow and ice over the following few days, and the UK Health Security Agency has additionally issued a degree three chilly climate alert protecting England.

National Energy Action stated extra authorities help is required for “those at greatest peril” within the below-freezing situations.

Adam Scorer, the charity’s chief govt, stated: “Impossibly high prices and now cold weather will leave millions struggling to stay warm and safe at home.

“Our figures present that 6.7 million UK households are gas poor after vitality costs have nearly doubled in a 12 months.

“We hear daily from people who are forced to turn their heating off when they need it the most.

“The vicious alternative is both big debt or an unheated dwelling, with dreadful penalties both means.

“We will now start to see just how bleak this winter is going to be.”

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The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice on Friday protecting northern England, England’s western and japanese coasts, the Welsh coast, and the northern a part of Northern Ireland.

There is a yellow warning for ice and snow in most of Scotland, which continues on Saturday and Sunday.

Also on Saturday, there’s a yellow warning for ice for the north of Northern Ireland and the western aspect of the UK, together with the Welsh coast and Cornwall.

Temperatures have been anticipated to fall as little as -10C in a single day into Friday, and roads, cycle paths and pavements may very well be icy, the Met Office stated.

The low temperatures triggered chilly winter climate funds for some postcodes in England and Wales.

This signifies that folks on low incomes obtain a £25 cost if the common temperature of their space has been (or is forecast to be) 0C or under over seven consecutive days.

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The Department for Work and Pensions stated these funds may very well be triggered via to the tip of March.

A spokesman added: “We’re dedicated to defending probably the most susceptible in our society and this extra assist comes on prime of wider Government help together with £1,200 in direct funds already issued to hundreds of thousands of low-income households this 12 months.

“Alongside this, we’re providing households with £400 towards their energy bills this winter, with our energy price guarantee saving the typical household another £900 on top of this.”

Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph has reported a warning from the National Grid that electrical energy provides shall be tight on Friday and Sunday because of the chilly climate.

The grid stated it would want to make use of “enhanced actions”, which the Telegraph stated embody a brand new scheme the place households are paid to make use of much less electrical energy to ease stress on provide.