THE number of Swindon families living in fuel poverty has risen by more than 10 per cent according to new Government figures.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) released statistics showing 5,008 households in the town were classed as “fuel poor” – equivalent to 6.1 per cent of the population. That was up by 13 per cent from the 4,400 such homes counted three years previously.

A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10 per cent of its income on fuel to maintain adequate warmth.

Yesterday’s figures covered 2006, the latest year for which local statistics are available, while the previous research focused on 2003.

Energy and Climate Change Minister David Kidney said he recognised more work needed to be done to tackle fuel poverty and promised that the Government would build on measures already introduced. He said: “We plan to legislate to give new powers to the regulator to take action, and are planning new measures on energy efficiency targeted at the poorest.”

But Shadow Energy Minister Charles Hendry said: “Warm words are all ministers have offered the millions of families who are falling into debt to heat their homes.”