People on £45,000 could struggle with bills, says chancellor

Nadhim Zahawi says energy price hike will be really hard' for middle-earners, as well as society's most vulnerable

People earning around 45,000 a year, as well as those on benefits, could need government help to pay their energy bills this winter, the chancellor has said.

Britain's energy industry regulator, Ofgem, on Friday confirmed an 80% rise in the consumer price cap from October that will take a typical household's gas and electricity bill from 1,971 to 3,549 a year.