Some 1.7 million Britons plan to keep heating OFF all winter as bills are set to hit nearly £2,000

A Uswitch poll has found that 1.7 million UK households — nearly 6 per cent — have no intention of switching their heating on throughout the winter, with bills having already climbed to £1,723 a year on October 1 and forecast to rise as high as £1,999 in January. More than 15 million homes report anxiety about staying warm this season, and 40 per cent say they will only put the heating on when the cold becomes unbearable. Uswitch's Ben Gallizzi warned the coldest months have not even arrived yet.

More than a third of those going without heating say they could actually afford it — they are cutting back purely to save cash.

Half of those skipping the heating plan to rely on extra layers, hot water bottles and electric blankets, while one in five will use portable heaters or log burners instead.

Seven in ten households on prepayment meters say they are worried about being cold this winter — 20 percentage points above the national average.