A mum-of-two who already chooses between 'heating and eating' cried when she discovered the average energy bill will rise by £111 a year.

Ofgem announced today (February 25) its new price cap of 6.4 per cent - the equivalent of an extra £111 a year for the average household.

Raegan Furness, 36, is a full-time carer to daughters Amelia-Star, 12, who has ADHD, and Kacie-Rae, eight, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.

The single mum from Macclesfield claims universal credit and disability living allowance (DLA) for both children, but says this doesn't cover food, bills or travel.

She already owes £3,500 to debt collectors and as such, is unsure how she will cope with the increase in energy bills.

Raegan said: "I'm having to choose between heating and eating - the government needs to know it's literally life-or-death.

"I'm a single parent - I don't know how I'm going to keep getting through this.

"I've already had debt collectors for my gas and electric come to my door; I'm already sitting in the cold in order to keep costs down."

Macclesfield resident Raegan Furness (Credit: SWNS)

Currently, Raegan drinks cups of tea to get her through the day as she can't afford to feed herself as well as the children.

The family rely on food banks to stock up their fridge, but Raegan still struggles to pay her energy bills on time.

"The most vulnerable people in society are struggling with this," she added.

"I can't just go to work and pay my bills off - I have a disabled child.

"I s**t myself every time I see a bills increase in the news - I worry for my children.

"I'm too embarrassed to ask anyone for help - my parents sometimes lend me money, but they're elderly and struggling with their own energy bills."

Raegan is a full-time carer for her daughter, Kacie-Rae (Credit: SWNS)

Raegan needs her gas and electric to keep Kacie-Rae's equipment working - like her suction machine, which stops her from choking.

She says the new cap is a matter of 'life and death' - and is forgoing feeding herself in order to keep her children comfortable and safe.

"I need to be able to charge my daughter's suction tube," she said.

"I worry I'm going to get into trouble because my kids aren't warm all the time."

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