HOUSEHOLDS are set to face a harsh winter of food and fuel poverty unless urgent government action is taken to curb the devastating rise in gas prices across Britain, ministers were warned today. 

Manufacturing bosses across the country said today that higher energy costs could be passed on to buyers alongside a sharp rise in domestic bills, forcing more people below the breadline. 

Earlier this week, experts suggested that next year could see gas bills rise by hundreds of pounds, with a chance that the energy price cap, which protects domestic consumers, jump by £400.