ABOUT 100 charities and organisations are collectively calling for a social energy tariff to help low-income and vulnerable older and disabled households heat their homes.

In an open letter to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, the groups including Age UK, Fair By Design, National Energy Action (NEA) and Scope warn that many older and disabled people, their carers and low-income households, are struggling with unaffordable energy bills.

Nearly a quarter of over-60s are living in cold homes, rising to 27 per cent for older people with a disability, according to a survey by Age UK.