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A pensioner will die from cold every seven minutes in Britain this winter, a damning report warns today.

Soaring fuel bills and poorly insulated homes are blamed by Age UK for the tens of thousands of older people who die due to cold weather each winter.

A new survey for the charity published on Tuesday reveals one in three pensioners now fear they cannot afford to heat their homes.

In total more than five million people aged over 65 say the soaring cost of fuel is one of their biggest worries over the winter months.

Labour’s shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint raged: “Britain is facing an energy bill crisis. Millions of people - especially older people - are struggling to heat their homes.”

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “The spectre of struggling to afford to heat their homes this winter is looming large in the minds of millions of older people.

"Increasing energy costs coupled with poorly insulated homes means the UK is fighting a losing battle against cold weather and it is very difficult for increasing numbers of people to properly protect themselves.

“The only long-term solution to this problem is an ambitious programme to bring all our housing up to a high energy efficiency standard.

(Image: Getty)

"We realise a national infrastructure project of this scale would require major investment; but not only would it reduce illness and deaths among older people, it would also cut associated costs to the NHS, create jobs and growth and help future generations.

“No older person should worry that they could die from the cold in their own home.

"Fuel poverty is a national scandal which has claimed the lives of too many people – both old and young – for far too long and left many more suffering from preventable illness.

"We want a permanent solution and we believe it is within our grasp, if there is the necessary imagination and political will.”

The Government insisted it is already doing enough to protect older people struggling to heat their homes.

A spokesman for the Department for Energy and Climate Change said; “We’re working harder and investing more to tackle fuel poverty than any previous Government – with fuel poverty down every year since 2010.

“Across Government we’re spending £2.15 billion this winter to help Britain’s pensioners pay for their bills through Winter Fuel Payments, along with an additional £310 million on the Warm Home Discount for those at risk of fuel poverty.

“But we know the way to help people permanently is to make their homes warmer and cheaper to heat. That’s why we’ve introduced an ambitious strategy, the first in a decade, to get the UK’s housing stock up to scratch.”