More than a third of Britons are unable to afford to heat their homes enough to be comfortably warm, a new survey suggests.

       It comes as energy bills are forecast to shoot up by 50 per cent within months should the government fail to intervene.

       A number of charities have warned that, without additional support, millions of low-income households are at risk of being forced to ration or turn off their heating to avoid falling into serious debt.