HEREFORDSHIRE'S worst spot for fuel poverty has been revealed as the Iran war continues to push prices up.
The worst-hit area in the county is Greater Foxley, according to Understanding Herefordshire, which said 35 per cent of homes in the area are in fuel poverty.
By contrast, the area with the least homes in fuel poverty is the Belmont-Abbotsmead area, at seven per cent.
An Understanding Herefordshire study found Herefordshire's rural nature plays a major role in its fuel poverty numbers, with homes in the county 46 per cent more likely to be in fuel poverty than in the rest of England.
Its rural nature means it has more detached houses, more houses dating to before 1900, and more homes that are not connected to mains gas than the rest of England, all of which make homes harder to heat.
The findings, made using ONS data, predate the Iran war, which has sent diesel and petrol prices spiralling, while heating oil prices have doubled for some.
The Countryside Alliance has been lobbying for the Prime Minister to consider the impact rising fuel prices are having on rural communities.
The Government has announced a funding package to help out struggling households, but concerns remain.
“£53 million in support is welcome, but Ministers will need to ensure that help arrives quickly for the households that need it most. Rural poverty often goes unseen, but it is driven by exactly this sort of inequality,” said Tim Bonner, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance.
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