Almost a third of UK adults expect to go without gas or power at some point this winter in order to be able to afford their energy bills.

That’s according to a new survey from npower, which reveals 46% aim to reduce their heating use while around 4% are planning to make savings by cutting out hot meals.

Worryingly, the proportion of people aiming to turn off their radiators rises to 53% in households with children.

Many others said they would have fewer hot showers and baths each week, avoid making hot drinks every day and start washing clothes less often.

A significant 57% said they were unaware of any financial help or advice being offered to those who are in difficulty.

The Big Six supplier has committed £1 million per year to fund Foodbank centres up until 2020.

Frank Field, MP for Birkenhead, a town with fuel poverty issues, said: “npower deserves huge credit for both recognising and acting on our concerns about the wicked choice some of our poorest residents face between heating and eating and the dire straits facing those who can afford neither food nor fuel.”