SHOCK figures have revealed more than half of households in some areas of Newcastle are trapped in fuel poverty.
And the number is set to rise as temperatures plummet and fuel prices rocket, forcing some to chose between heating or eating.
In Elswick, 52% of households struggle to pay bills according to information released today by campaign group Consumer Focus and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
By Tim Ross, Political Correspondent
Paul Burstow, the care services minister and a Liberal Democrat MP, is demanding to know why councils are failing to pass on £2 billion of extra money that the Government allocated to support for frail and disabled adults.
In an interview with The Telegraph, he accused dozens of authorities of “clearly” failing to act “in the best interests” of their residents.
I celebrated my 93rd last week, in respite care.
I ended up here after a short stay in hospital a few months ago. I’m not sure what happened. I told them I was getting old, I didn’t feel well and my legs wouldn’t support my weight.
They talk a lot about me, I have been to a lot of meetings recently. I can’t remember what they are about. My family have been there and they explain what is going on, but I don’t understand it all. I don’t listen to it all.
