THE number of elderly and vulnerable people calling an advice company about fuel bill worries has risen by a quarter since the start of the energy crisis.

Citizens Advice say calls are up 23 per cent on last year with escalating energy costs and rising household bills “to blame”.

The independent advice organisation’s Dorset office is in Wareham and partnered with the Dorset Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter appeal to help residents in need.

The appeal gives grants of £200 to help people aged over 60 or those over 50 with disabilities living in fuel poverty to help with heating bills.

Last year the charity was able to help people switch to lower tariffs but with 28 companies now having gone to the wall, larger suppliers are not offering cheaper deals.

Project supervisor Ros Dignan said people are coming to the charity with heart-breaking stories. She said: “We had an 89-year-old lady on a state pension who is in social housing and still on a coin meter, which is a much higher tariff. She is not even eligible for the government’s Warm Homes Discount because the landlord controls the meter.

“Having a Surviving Winter grant has made a huge difference because it means she has a bit of breathing space for other agencies to do a survey into what heating support she needs.”

Dorset Community Foundation director Grant Robson said: “Rising prices are going to drive more people deeper into poverty.

“We have awarded more than £2 million in grants since the start of the pandemic, but it is clear that we are going to need even more support so that we can help these amazing groups keep pace with the demand being placed on them.”