Households in Kent face a difficult winter as further rises to the energy price cap look set to pile pressure on already stretched budgets.

One expert predicts gas and electricity bills climbing to £170 a month for those currently paying £100, and to £340 for those forking out £200.

Research firm Cornwall Insight has forecast that the price cap could rise to £3,245 a year when it is next reviewed in October - before climbing even higher in the new year.

One Kent councillor reacted to the likelihood of a further increase in utility bills by warning people living in his ward, and millions nationwide, will face the choice between heating and eating as inflation continues to drive prices higher.

Liberal Democrat Tim Prater, who represents Sandgate and is the cabinet member for revenues and benefits at Folkestone and Hythe District Council, has called on the government to do more to tame "seemingly out of control" inflation.

He said: "This has ceased to be a cost of living crisis for those on low incomes, and is becoming a crisis for everyone, whether in Sandgate or elsewhere.

"For households where a fuel bill used to be £200 a month in the winter, that could be nearly £500 a month this winter.

"The decision between heating and eating will become more and more real for all households, and a few hundred pounds worth of government grants are not going to fix this.

"The government needs to look at what is happening in France, where energy price rises are massively lower, learn from them and make the same true here."

Consumer affairs guru Martin Lewis took to Twitter to react to the latest price cap forecast, telling his 1.5 million followers what it will likely mean for their monthly spend.

He predicts a £100 bill will rise to £165 in October, and again to £170 in January.

A £150 bill, he says, will go up to £250, and then to £255, while those currently paying £200 will have to find £330 in October and then £340 in January.

Anyone paying £300 a month could be hit with an initial rise to £495, and then £510.

"It's horrendous," Mr Lewis tweeted.

"Especially as we're now near the end of the assessment period that sets Oct's cap, so this is the right ball park.

"The Oct prediction is now £450/yr HIGHER than Ofgem mooted in May & that was what Sunak based the £400-£1,200/yr help on. More will be needed!"

France looks set to renationalise energy firm EDF in response to the worldwide fuel crisis which has been made worse by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Here the government has announced a package of measures aimed at alleviating the strain on household budgets.

Measures include a £400 discount for every household in the country in October, which has not been factored into the Cornwall Insight forecast.

Conservative councillor Clive Goddard, who represents the largely rural ward of Walland and Denge Marsh, echoed Cllr Prater's concerns.

"Everyone will be affected and will feel the pinch, especially here in Lydd and the Marsh villages," he said. "People will suffer.

"Hopefully a new prime minister will be in place in early September and I will be lobbying to lower or stop the increase."