At least nine pensioners died from diseases linked to cold during the last winter season against a surge of rising energy bills.

Figures released by officials suggest that the number of deaths related to cold and cough during the four months reached 25,400 in Wales and England in addition to 2,760 in Scotland.

Energy company critics and charities claim that England has the highest number of winter deaths in northern Europe which is much worse than the colder countries like Finland and Sweden.

There are rising fears regarding the fact that death toll could increase this year after a recent surge of price rise which may cause the pensioners to avoid turning on the heating units in their houses and thus lead to cold deaths.

Pensioners see the increasing fuel bills in winters and start getting worried about their affordability to use heating indoors.

The death rate of the elderly is very high but the total toll was reduced around 30 percent in comparison to the years 2008 and 2009 since there were lesser flu outbreaks as per the records of the Office for National Statistics.