West Dunbartonshire Citizens Advice Bureau is urging local people in financial difficulty to plan ahead to budget for the extra costs of fuel bills over winter.

Advisers with the organisation say that they fear many people will simply go without food or warmth over the coming weeks rather than see debts continuing to pile up, but have called on people to access the help and advice that’s on hand.

WDCAB is working with West Dunbartonshire Council to challenge issues around fuel poverty and have appointed two energy advice officers who want to highlight the problems people may face and offer advice to tackle issues.

Linsey Close, the energy advice officer covering the Clydebank area, said: “We are extremely concerned at the numbers of people we are seeing here at the CAB who are in financial difficulty because of the benefits freeze, with incomes static or falling and prices rising, we are having to help more and more people every day who are struggling just to get by.

“Of course these levels of financial difficulty are worrying at any time, but in particular at this time of year we’re concerned that people will really struggle to pay the extra cost of gas and electricity over the next few months. Some of the people we see here are looking us in the eye and saying that they don’t think they’ll be able to turn their heating up this winter.

“Others are saying they’ll have to choose between food and fuel. And these are often pensioners, or people with young children. It’s unthinkable that they should suffer in this way.”