More than 12,000 people in Havering are living in fuel poverty, according to latest figures from a group of green energy activists.

The figures from the Energy Bill Revolution show that three constituencies in the borough are suffering from London’s highest level of fuel poverty.

Ed Matthew, Director of Transform UK, the organisation which is coordinating the campaign said: “It is scandalous that anyone in a developed country should face the choice of whether to buy food or heat their home. From next year the Government will have the money to end the blight of fuel poverty.”

In Dagenham and Rainham 4,953 households out of a total of 38,010 are suffering from fuel poverty, making it the second most fuel poor constituency in London.

Hornchurch and Upminster also has the eighth worse case of fuel poverty in the capital with 4,937 people out of 39,512 households.

In Romford, 4,604 people out of 36,866 are living in poverty.

Ed said: “The majority of people are living in fuel poverty because they just can’t affford to pay to heat their homes.

“In areas like Hornchurch and Upminster, the majority of those living in fuel poverty might be elderly residents.

“They might be living in houses with lots of financial value but because they haven’t got any income they can’t afford to maintain them.”

Energy Bill Revolution have launched a campaign calling on the Government to recycle the taxes charged on fuel bills into a major new insultations scheme which would cut bills by helping people to use less fuel to keep warm.

Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas is supportting the bill by the energy group to raise nine out of ten homes from fuel poverty with the help of �4billion raised as a result of the European Emnissions Trading Scheme and the Carbon Floor Pirce from 2013.

Mr Cruddas said: “The findings of the Energyy Bill Revolution show how vulnerable certain sections of society, particularly the elderly and victims of chronic unemployment still are.”