SOME council tenants in Worcestershire are too "poverty stricken" to afford to heat their houses adequately, a report has revealed.

And in some parts of the county the amount of tenants who cannot afford to pay fuel bills is bordering on 25 per cent.

Members of Worcester City Council's housing board will be given the chance to pass a countywide strategy to tackle the problem, when they meet tonight.

And if the Affordable Warm Strategy is implemented, more than £17,000 will be invested in an infrastructure network for Worcestershire.

The aim will be to help develop the Government's UK Fuel Poverty Strategy which aims to reduce the problem for four million homes nationwide during the next 10 years.

The strategy aims to allow people to heat their homes adequately, within a budget they can manage.

Fuel Poverty is defined as when a household spends more than 10 per cent of its income on all fuels to keep a house at a satisfactory temperature - between 18 to 21 degrees centigrade.

More than £6,000 has already been obtained from sponsorship by nPower and a further £3,000 from Warwickshire/Worcestershire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre.