TWENTY neighbourhoods in Swindon are set to be hit hardest by the energy crisis when the price cap rises in October.

Analysis by climate charity Friends of the Earth shows 20 out of the borough’s 132 neighbourhoods are at the greatest risk of financial hardship when bills become more costly next month.

This means 15 per cent of neighbourhoods in the area are among the worst impacted across England and Wales. Nationally, nearly 9,000 areas have been classed as energy crisis hotspots.

These are defined by the charity as areas with above-average energy costs and lower than average household income. Friends of the Earth analysed smart meters and unmetered fuel consumption to determine them.

THE LIST

Swindon is split into 22 different wards, and these are further divided into sections labelled from 001A to 025F.

Swindon Advertiser: These parts of Swindon have been highlighted as 'energy crisis hotspots'These parts of Swindon have been highlighted as 'energy crisis hotspots'

The following areas are highlighted as being energy crisis hotspots:

001D - Highworth

003A – Penhill

005A – St Philip

006C and 007C – Moredon

007A, 010B and 010D – Gorse Hill and Pinehurst

007D - Western

009F – St Margaret

015D - Central

016B - Walcot

019A and 019E – Eastcott

020A and 020B - Parks

022D and 022F – Toothill and Westlea

023F - Dorcan

025E – Wroughton and Chiseldon

For the full map, visit friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/new-research-reveals-nearly-9000-energy-crisis-hotspots-england-and-wales

Mike Childs, the charity's head of science, policy and research, urged the Government to beef up its package of emergency financial support and protect the most vulnerable from these soaring price rises.

Cornwall Insights predicts that after the price cap has risen, an average household will pay bills of more than £3,600 per year - more than double the £1,400 figure last October – and from January, this is predicted to increase further to £4,300.

Friends of the Earth urged the government to provide meaningful intervention instead of the "woeful and poorly targeted cash handouts" announced in April.

Mr Childs added: "The highest priority of all is fixing the UK’s leaky, inefficient housing stock, otherwise cash handouts will be required year on year.

"By rolling out a free programme of street-by-street energy efficiency measures and prioritising the most in-need neighbourhoods, we can help to bring bills down quickly, make homes warmer and slash Earth-warming emissions at the same time."

In Swindon, 3,400 homes require cavity wall insulation and 3,290 need loft insulation.

Nationally, they are among 1.2 million and 1.3 million homes needing these improvements respectively.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said it is providing £37 billion worth of support to help households during the cost-of-living crisis.

A BEIS spokesperson said: "We are investing £6.6 billion in this parliament to improve energy efficiency as part of the government’s 'Help to Heat' programme, which is helping make households across the country cheaper to heat."

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman added: "Many energy companies offer schemes or grants to help with home heating and energy costs.

"For example, by making your home more energy-efficient or offering free boiler checks and upgrades. You don’t have to be a customer to join some of these schemes: https://bit.ly/2Uyt4zY

"Contact Citizens Advice Swindon for help before applying for a grant on 0808 278 7813 (10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday) or fill out the online enquiry form: www.citizensadviceswindon.org.uk/contact-us/

"Getting advice will help your chances of a successful grant application."