It has been estimated that 45 million Britons will be plunged into fuel poverty and struggle to pay energy bills this winter, new research has revealed.

Two-thirds of UK households (or 18 million families) will be forced into financial insecurity by January as inflation continues to soar.

Yesterday the Consumer Prices Index inflation reached a 40-year high, entering double figures at 10.1%.

According to the study on fuel poverty by the University of York, the region hardest hit will be Northern Ireland with 76.3% of families battling to make ends meet, followed by Scotland at 72.8%, then the West Midlands (70.9%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (70.6%).

Fuel poverty to hit UK families as inflation soars

Bournemouth Echo: Yesterday the Consumer Prices Index inflation reached a 40-year high (PA)Yesterday the Consumer Prices Index inflation reached a 40-year high (PA) (Image: PA)

The research published by The Guardian newspaper also stated that 86.4% of pensioner couples will fall into fuel poverty.

Single-parent households with two or more children will bear the brunt at 90.4%.

The shadow secretary of state for climate change and net zero, Ed Miliband, responded to the report by calling for an energy price freeze to address the “national emergency” of inflation.

The Labour MP wrote on Twitter: “These shocking figures show the full scale of the national emergency that could unfold unless the Conservative government acts to freeze energy bills.

“We simply cannot allow the British people to suffer in this way.

“We need an energy price freeze.”

This statement echoed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s proposal announced on Monday to freeze the energy price cap at its current level of £1,971 for six months from October, saving the average household £1,000.

Pressure was further applied to the Tory candidates and Government on Wednesday with the resignation of Ofgem director Christine Farnish, who cited concerns the energy regulator was failing to effectively protect struggling households.

Farnish told The Times the watchdog had not “struck the right balance between the interests of consumers and the interests of suppliers”.

The energy regulator has faced criticism in recent months for not doing enough to protect families during the global energy crisis.

It is understood Ms Farnish’s resignation is linked to Ofgem’s decision to change the methodology of the price cap to allow suppliers to recover some of the high energy “backwardation” costs sooner rather than later.