The struggle faced by Cumbrians forced to choose between “heating and eating” was highlighted at a recent event looking to raise awareness of fuel poverty.

Organised by charity Warmer Communities, which works to tackle the issue in partnership with Carlisle City Council, the event was held at Longtown Community Centre last Friday.

According to the government’s definition, a household is in fuel poverty if paying to keep warm puts those living there below the official poverty line.

More than 11 per cent of households in England are in fuel poverty according to recent government statistics, but the figures for the Carlisle area are higher, at 12.3 per cent.

Denis and Norma Turner, a Stanwix couple in their seventies, are among those concerned about the issue.

They paid a visit to the Longtown event last Friday morning to find out more.

“We don’t know much about fuel poverty,” said Denis.

“It is a worry for us. We want to know more about what’s out there to help.”

Warmer Communities Carlisle, only launched five months ago, works closely with City Council service Homelife to reduce energy costs for those struggling financially.

Karen Osborne and Julia Latimer from the City Council’s Benefit Advice Service were on hand at last week’s event to give advice.

They help about 500 people a year in varying states of need navigate the complexities of the benefits system.

“There isn’t a typical person. It goes across the board,” Karen said.

Karen explained that the service sees people in such hardship, they are forced to choose between heating their home and buying food.

“We do see that, where there is that choice between ‘do I eat or not’.

“We have the mental health services referring to us people who are literally starving.

“With mental health, anyone who has got a mental health issue we are tending to find more extreme problems than we used to in the past.

“They have difficulty keeping up with the compliance issues. That obviously will swing them straight into fuel poverty.

“It’s an extreme example but it can happen,” she added, stressing that people from all walks of life can find themselves in need of benefits.

City councillor Lee Sherriff, portfolio holder for communities, health and wellbeing, said that the event helped raise awareness of the issue.

“We have got people who are choosing between heating and eating, which sounds like a cliche but is very true,” she said.

She agreed that struggling with mental health issues complicated the application process.

“A simplification of the benefits system would really help,” she said.