GOVERNMENT support for households which rely on heating oil has been labelled a ‘sticking plaster’ by local MP Rachel Gilmour.

Mrs Gilmour also wants the ‘Rural Fuel Duty Relief Scheme’ extended to cover her Tiverton and Minehead constituency.

She said many constituents were concerned they would fall through gaps in support systems, leaving them paying prohibitively high energy costs because of the Iran war.

Mrs Gilmour has asked to urgently meet Treasury Exchequer Secretary Dan Tomlinson to discuss extending fuel duty relief.

She said: “After leaving the South West out of their budgets and demonstrating a complete lack of understanding about rural areas during their 20 months in office, it is not surprising this Government has not properly grasped the severity of the heating oil crisis on rural communities.”