One in 10 households in the Braintree district were living in fuel poverty in 2022, new figures show.

Energy prices skyrocketed from the end of 2021 due to reduced supply and geopolitical issues, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, putting more pressure on hard-up households.

Latest estimates from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities suggest 6,661 households in the district were suffering fuel poverty in 2022 - 10 per cent of the 66,404 households in the area.

This compares to the England average of 13 per cent.

Nationally, 3.2 million households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in 2022, a similar figure to the year before.

Households are judged to be in fuel poverty if they are below the poverty line and living in a house with an energy efficiency rating of D or worse.

Adam Scorer, chief exec of the National Energy Action fuel poverty charity, said: "This data shows how fuel poverty hits different parts of England harder – areas with the lowest incomes and draughtiest homes."

And he said the Government should not consider the energy crisis over.

"Bills remain far higher than pre-crisis levels," said Mr Scorer.

"Households remain dangerously exposed to volatile wholesale energy prices because of how draughty our homes are and how weak household finances have become. Energy debt has reached record levels."

The charity is calling for a social tariff for those on the lowest incomes, more help for those in debt and greater investment in improving the energy efficiency of homes.

The West Midlands was the worst-hit region, with almost one in five homes in fuel poverty.

The East of England, South East and London had the lowest levels at about 10 per cent.

A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: "Today’s figures show our energy bill support schemes and progress in making homes more energy efficient have protected hundreds of thousands of households from fuel poverty.

"Almost half of all homes in England are now at an EPC rating of C or above, up from 14 per cent in 2010.

"We do recognise the cost-of-living challenges families are facing, which is why we’re spending £108 billion supporting households with their bills, including targeted support for those who need it through the £150 Warm Home Discount."