INVESTING £6 billion in a package of measures to improve energy efficiency could cut heating costs for millions of households by £500 a year, Labour claimed yesterday.

The party said its proposed national warm homes plan would fund upgrades to properties rated below energy performance certificate band C.

Shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband insisted the scheme would boost the energy efficiency of 19 million homes nationwide over the next decade as he accused the Tories of failing to address the problem.