Florence asks residents to pay utility bills of struggling pensioners

Social impact of Italy's 50% energy price rise is evident in city where 27.6% of the population is over 65

Florence residents are being asked to pay the utility bills of elderly people living alone and struggling to make ends meet as the city's leaders seek to shield the most vulnerable from soaring energy costs.

The adopt a bill" initiative begins in the next few days and comes as the social implications of a more than 50% hike in gas and electricity bills in Italy this winter start to manifest.