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Government help for homeowners using heating oil or bottled gas will not offset the expected rise in fuel bills this winter, countryside groups have warned.

Much of the support for beleaguered consumers has been focused on electricity or mains gas.

However, the UK government did announced a £100 payment for homes relying on oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

See also: Support scheme to halve energy bills for UK farm businesses

All UK households will be given a one-off £400 payment this winter. Homes connected to mains energy will also see bills frozen at £2,500 for the average household, rather than the predicted price cap of £3,459.

But this does not apply to homes that are off the gas grid.

Instead, prime minister Liz Truss has announced a £100 handout for these households, most of which are farm and village properties.

Rural campaign group the Countryside Alliance (CA) said this would leave many homes without enough money to fill tanks.

In the past nine months, heating oil prices have seen huge hikes. The average cost of filling a 1,000-litre tank at the start of the year was about £620, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

By August, when customers traditionally buy oil ahead of the winter, prices had peaked and the same tank cost £1,108 to fill.

CA head of political James Legge said the £100 payment for rural households would not be enough for some families. Even though prices have eased since August, a minimum delivery of 500 litres would still cost almost £500, he warned.

Mr Legge told the Daily Telegraph that most people were required to pay up front for oil, while people on mains energy paid monthly.

He urged the government to work with oil companies to devise a monthly payment scheme and to remove VAT from fuel this winter.

The Liberal Democrats have also urged the government to do more for rural dwellers to avoid a potential health crisis.

Sarah Osborne, Lib Dem health spokesperson at the Local Government Association (LGA), said low-income households in mostly rural areas faced a potential health crisis.

“Living in a cold home will undermine mental health, while uncapped oil prices will lead to anxiety and isolation,” Ms Osborne said.

Emily Smith, the party’s rural spokeswoman at the LGA, added: “Without action, the government risks the health of many of the 1.5 million who have no option other than to use oil or LPG to heat their homes.

“The government must go further in promoting alternatives for heating such as air-source heat pumps and investing in training to ensure there is capacity to install and service them.”

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