‘We’re so busy’: Birmingham’s warm spaces fill up as winter weather bites

People struggling with rising energy bills use dozens of sites across city while council braces for increase in those seeking help

It was about zero degrees celsius in Birmingham as families piled into Gas Street St Luke's church cafe, one of the city council's designated warm spaces", to escape the December cold.

Staff said the cafe, just outside the city centre, has been busier than ever over the past few weeks as the cold weather has set in and people try to keep the heating off at home because of rising costs.