AN MP has pledged to help people struggling this winter with cold homes.

David Hanson, Delyn MP, is supporting the Warm and Safe Homes Campaign (WASH) which aims to highlight the desperate and unsafe coping strategies being adopeted across the UK due to the misery of living in fuel poverty.

The most recent Excess Winter Death figures have been released and show that 2,126 people in Wales died needlessly of a cold home last winter, an increase of 20.6 per cent on last year.

The MP said: "I am backing NEA’s Warm and Safe Homes Campaign to fight fuel poverty this winter. It is an important issue that we simply cannot ignore. Living in a cold home can lead to problems for families and many others including ill health, especially in those who are vulnerable such as older people, young children, and those with long-term sickness and disabilities

"I hope to help NEA (National Energy Action) shine a light on the desperate and unsafe coping strategies being used by the most vulnerable across the UK this winter. In the UK today, there should be no need for these practices. Cold homes, and the misery and ill health they create need to be eradicated, especially for the most vulnerable in our society. We know the causes, the consequences and the cures but we risk neglecting millions of people that could be helped with immediate and practical solutions.

New evidence, provided by the NEA charity has revealed the top ten unsafe fuel poverty coping strategies being used to survive winter. The regular use of older, dangerous or unserviced heating appliances is common-place, despite being potentially fatal or leading to heightened risks for nearby neighbours as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, fires and explosions.

It also found that people struggling to heat their homes are spending their days in heated spaces such as libraries or A&E to avoid the cold.

Adam Scorer, Chief Executive of NEA, said the statistics have jumped for the second year in a row.

He added: "We all know that people regularly cut back on their energy use and rely on food banks to get by during winter. But in a modern country like Britain people are even barbequing in sinks, going to bed early to keep warm and permanently using candles for lighting.

"Frontline workers have also told us they regularly see dangerous appliances being used, ventilation blocked off and people spending days in A&E and libraries just to keep warm. Further evidence from energy suppliers highlights that over 150,000 cases of energy theft were uncovered last year, many of those causing death or major injury, not just to the culprits but innocent neighbours and passers-by.

More information about the campaign can be found online at www.nea.org.uk