A regional press group has launched a campaign to help tackle the fuel crisis with families facing “one of the toughest winters ever.”

The ‘Keep us warm this winter’ campaign has been launched across all JPIMedia newspapers and websites as energy regulator Ofgem warned that consumers can expect an average price rise of £135 this winter.

JPIMedia says it intends to put pressure on the government to ensure no vulnerable families find themselves without heating.

Among the titles to take up the campaign this week was the Lancashire Post, which splashed on the issue on Wednesday.

Chris Murray, the founder of Preston-based Here for Humanity organisation, told the newspaper that he expects to see more families needing to use food banks as worries over paying bills continue.

The soar in prices comes as the economy opens up following Covid, demand for gas in Asia grows, and several gas platforms in the North Sea have closed to perform maintenance that was paused during the pandemic.

A JPIMedia spokesperson said: “We will give our audience all the information they need about the current fuel crisis; keep them up to date with developments and ways to ensure they can cope with the winter ahead.

“We will put pressure on Government to ensure no vulnerable families find themselves without heating this winter and demand extra payments to those families to cover the excess heating charges

“Our stories will keep an open conversation with our audience to help them find solutions to their individual concerns and put those concerns to our MPs/Government

“We will stand up for families in our communities as they face one of the toughest winters ever.”