MORE than 25,000 children in the Bradford district are living in families with energy debt problems, a report has revealed.

The figures have been released in The Children's Society's report, Show Some Warmth: Exposing the damaging impact of energy debt on children.

A total of 25,500 children are living in families who have been in energy debt at some point, says a study by charity The Children's Society.

In Bradford East it is 3,700, while Bradford South and Bradford West report 4,300 and 2,600 respectively.

Batley and Spen reported 4,100, Calder Valley has 3,700, Keighley 3,500 and Shipley 3,600 children.

This figure is out of a total of 219,000 children across Yorkshire and the Humber.

The statistics have been broken down into parliamentary constituencies.

Matt Barlow, CEO of Bradford-based charity Christians Against Poverty, says more work needs to be done to make sure families on pre-payment meters can have access to better energy deals.

He said: "The numbers in this report are very shocking and it is good to be reminded that it isn’t just older people that suffer from a lack of heating.

"It is clear that too often the very poorest households are paying the most for energy, which is completely unjust.

"More work needs to be done to make sure those families on pre-payment meters can have access to the best deals.

“Anyone with debt problems is best seeking help as soon as possible from one of the free debt agencies like Christians Against Poverty, Stepchange, Payplan or National Debtline.”

Meanwhile, the report also found 32 per cent of parents falling into energy debt across Yorkshire and The Humber found their energy company aggressive, with 53 per cent complaining they were not treated with respect.

A total of 24 per cent of children living in families who have been in energy debt have had trouble sleeping because their bedroom was too cold.

Matthew Reed, chief executive of The Children's Society, said: "Huge numbers of families in Yorkshire and The Humber are struggling to make ends meet yet companies are making them the victims of their damaging debt practices.

"It is time to show some warmth and stop failing vulnerable families.

"No child should be made to grow up in a cold home because their parents are trapped in an energy debt trap."

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