Calls have been made to identify places to be used as "warm banks" this winter amid the cost of living crisis

Kent County Council's shadow cabinet member for adult social care, Cllr Kelly Grehan (Lab) has lobbied for the community to come together to provide aid.

She is preparing a list of places where people can keep warm and go to sit to play games, chat, use computers and play activities for free, or at minimal cost

Cllr Grehan said: "I'm hoping the list will show people they are not alone

"This is not enough, by any stretch of the imagination though - we need action from the government.

Suggested "warm bank" venues include churches and libraries to allow people to go sit, play games, use computers and engage in other activities for free.

It comes after a number of borough councils revealed they were looking at potentially opening their own warm banks.

The Diocese of Rochester, which represents areas of Medway, north and west Kent, is also reaching out to churches to explore plans for the coming months.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Rochester said: "Warm banks are on our community engagement and social action team’s plan to discuss with local churches.

"We are currently in the process of starting to reach out to churches to explore what might be possible."

Their comments come amid growing concerns of the cost of living crisis on families, which will see a major hike in energy bills, such as heating.

Energy prices have already suffered one significant cost rise this year, leaping by between £600 and £700 in April for the average household on a standard variable tariff.

'When I was a child there were regular cases of older people dying because of the cold and I'm fearful we could see the same'

A second rise of more than £800 is now forecast for October followed by the potential for another swift leap in January - changes that could leave millions of homes facing fuel poverty and struggling to heat their homes by the winter.

Monthly household energy bills could hit £500 by the new year according to the latest predictions.

Cllr Grehan (Lab), working with Church of England St Edumunds Church in Dartford to set up a coat exchange, says she remains "fearful" about the winter period.

She said: "We are all trying to find ways to keep costs down, but I am fearful of what could happen once energy prices rise and the cold weather begins.

"When I was a child there were regular cases of older people dying because of the cold and I'm fearful we could see the same

"I'm horrified by the dismal response to this crisis by the Tory government, so I am trying to find ways to at least help in some ways."

KCC will present a full report on the cost of living crisis to full council next month.