One in 10 households in Medway are in fuel poverty, a charity has found.

An estimated 10,411 families in the Towns are risking their health by living in the cold, according to National Energy Action.

The organisation met with government representatives this week to discuss how it is helping people who struggle to afford to heat their homes.

Medway's figure is one of the highest in the region, with 10.1 per cent of its estimated 102,916 households falling under the category.

The number of households living in fuel poverty in the south east is said to have risen by more than 166,000 in four years.

Perhaps surprisingly, the highest rate is on the Isle of Wight where more that 15 per cent of its 61,508 households are estimated to live in fuel poverty.

Fuel poverty is defined as when a household needs to spend more than ten per cent of its income after housing costs on fuel.

Nationally, the number of older households that fall in the category doubled between 2003 and 2008, from one in ten to one in five.

Maria Wardrobe, from NEA, said: "The number of households living in fuel poverty is likely to increase further unless we ensure new proposals from the government are targeted at the most vulnerable."

The government is drawing up plans for a new way of issuing fuel grants for vulnerable householders, such as pensioners.

Are you in fuel poverty? Leave your comments below or email medwaymessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk.