Almost a dozen warm banks are taking in people in Shropshire who cannot afford to heat their homes, new figures show.
The figures come as a leading anti-poverty charity cautions that hundreds of thousands of people on low incomes are at risk during the extreme low temperatures hitting the UK.
The soaring cost of fuel and basic essentials has led to the rise of so-called 'warm banks' – locations such as churches and libraries which people can visit if they are struggling to afford heating.
Warm Welcome, a campaign group, has compiled a map of warm spaces across the UK – with 10 open in Shropshire as of December 1.
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The charity said nearly 2,700 warm banks were open across the country at this time, including 229 in the West Midlands.
They come in various shapes and sizes, and may provide other support – such as food, hot drinks, and internet access.
The charity says that more spaces are opening every day across the country, and that it is working hard to register new organisations that are helping out – meaning that the real figure could be higher.
David Barclay, manager of the Warm Welcome campaign, called it "unacceptable" that people are being forced to decide whether to heat their homes or eat.
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