Anger over ‘25% gas price hike’

Consumer groups have reacted angrily to a claim that gas bills are about to leap by 25%, thought to be the biggest single increase ever.

Age Concern warned that higher bills could lead to more deaths of the elderly while gas and electricity watchdog, energywatch, said that if there were such an increase, it would expect consumers to leave British Gas.

The newspaper said the announcement of the rise would be made by the end of the month but could come as early as this week. It quoted a senior British Gas source as saying it would be between 22% and 25%, more than 10 times the rate of inflation.

The Mail