Energy giant SSE is to cut its standard gas prices by 5.3% in the latest move by a Big Six supplier to reduce tariffs.

The group said the reduction will take effect on March 29 and will save household gas customers on average £32 a year.

It follows just a week after rival E.ON announced it was lowering gas prices by 5.1% from February 1.

The cut was praised by Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Amber Rudd as a "step in the right direction".

But Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert and www.cheapenergyclub.co.uk, branded the reduction as "trivial".

He said: "Again it's just a trivial 5% on gas only, not electricity, nothing close to the drop in wholesale prices.

"Energy firms must be whooping for joy that they can get away with such small cuts."

SSE's price cut will not take effect until after Easter, but SSE said it comes three months before its current price freeze comes to an end.

The group pledged to keep energy prices on hold in March 2014 until the end of June 2016.