Ofgem admits Britain could run out of gas this winter in an extreme cold snap and turns to Belgium for help

Jonathan Brearley, the energy department's most senior civil servant, has admitted he cannot guarantee the lights will stay on. Tory energy spokesman Andrew Bowie said the warning was 'sneaked out' and called the plan to pay other countries for gas 'utterly outrageous'. Billpayers are expected to cover the cost, about £1.19 a year per household. A consultation on the charges runs until 20 November.

The Zeebrugge-to-Bacton pipeline had cut capacity to 16.5GW from 1 October, citing high costs.

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh approved the Jackdaw North Sea field a day earlier.

Gas prices are nearly triple last winter's levels amid Middle East supply disruption.