Increasing gas and electricity prices could result in thousands of families being left without heat if they cannot afford to pay their bills.
This is according to Save the Children, which noted the majority of families are not getting the help they need from energy suppliers and the government.
It was claimed by the charity just three per cent of the 800,000 households eligible for assistance under the Warm Home Discount have received the grant due to a funding shortfall.
Chief executive of Save the Children Justin Forsyth said: "It's unacceptable that 97 per cent of the UK's poorest families who need help heating their homes this winter will get nothing."
He added the scheme needs millions of pounds of investment from gas and electricity companies to be effective.
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