Energy support sends UK government borrowing to December record

Spending exceeds receipts by 27.4bn, as higher interest payments also contribute to deficit

Government payments to soften the impact of rocketing energy bills helped send UK public borrowing soaring to more than 27bn last month - the highest figure for December since modern records began 30 years ago.

The latest bulletin on the health of the UK's finances from the Office for National Statistics showed government spending last month exceeded receipts by 27.4bn.