Families in North Northamptonshire affected by the sudden and dramatic rise in the cost of heating oil are being offered an emergency grant of £150.

Residents who are not connected to mains gas and are at risk of running out of heating can apply for the funds from North Northamptonshire Council.

The grants were aimed at low income and vulnerable households, it added.

Councillor Greg Wilcox, Reform UK executive member for communities, said the support came after the price of heating oil spiked in the aftermath of the US-Israeli war with Iran, which had seen some people's bills double their orders cancelled.

"Unlike for those who use gas and electricity for their domestic fuel, prices for households using oil are not capped by regulator Ofgem," Wilcox said.

"We know this is hitting people in our rural communities hard and families who rely on heating oil don't have the same protections as those on mains gas."

Only those unable to afford the minimum cost of an oil delivery may be eligible to apply, the council said.

Successful applicants will be issued with a £150 heating oil prepaid card through the Huggg voucher platform.

"The fund is not intended for everyday or planned oil purchases," the council said.

"It is for emergency situations where low oil levels and the cost of a delivery would put health, safety or basic living conditions at risk."

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