Although rising energy bills have been a fact of life for some time, the decision by British Gas this week to lift gas charges by a breathtaking 35 per cent has caused an outcry, raising fears that millions of households will slide into "fuel poverty".

Unveiling half-year profits of £994m yesterday, parent company Centrica was at pains to point out that group profits had fallen 17 per cent and British Gas profits fell 69 per cent because of wholesale gas costs.