DISABLED people face a “cost-of-breathing” crisis due to higher bills for the energy needed to keep their vital medical equipment running, a charity is warning.

In a new television advertisement, shown on ITV from today, Scope says that disabled people who rely on energy to move around, speak and breathe risk losing their independence, health and wellbeing.

A quarter of the callers to the Scope helpline who rely on medical equipment have had to switch it off to save money.