THE government issued its first cold weather alert this year, while millions continue to ration their energy use to dangerous levels. 

The UK Health Security Agency issued a yellow cold weather this weekend for north-east England, the north-west, Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands and West Midlands, which will last until November 21. 

Six million people already live in fuel poverty in Britain and plummeting temperatures mean that vulnerable households will need to spend even more to keep their homes warm.