BRADFORD had one of England's highest rates of fuel poverty in 2022, new figures show.

Latest estimates from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities suggest 42,777 households in Bradford were living in fuel poverty in 2022 - 19.8 per cent of the 216,069 households in the area.

This gives Bradford one of the highest rates in the country, far above the England average of 13.1 per cent.

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

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.

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.

Charities have urged the Government to "do more" to tackle fuel poverty.

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: "We do recognise the cost of living challenges families are facing, which is why we're spending £108billion supporting households with their bills, including targeted support for those who need it through the £150 Warm Home Discount."