Households in the UK received a fresh blow to their finances tonight after the countrys largest energy supplier announced double-digit price hikes.

British households faced the threat of further increases in energy bills today after a regulator warned that gas supplies could be even tighter this winter.

British Gas owner Centrica will fuel anger today over spiralling energy bills by revealing it banked profits of around £1.5bn (€2.2bn) in 2005.

British Gas was braced for another customer backlash today after hiking household energy bills by 14.2%.

Energy group Centrica was under fire from consumer groups today after profits at its British Gas arm soared 64% at a time of rising household bills.