Leighton has been named among Bedfordshire's top home energy hotspots according to a study by energy giants EON.

Homes in the town are spending an average £1,172.93 on their fuel bills, which is £98.25 more than the lowest consuming town Arlesley.
Dunstable came second in the study with householders spending on average £1,187.93.

Tom Nicols, portfolio holder for sustainable development at Central Beds Council, said: "The use of energy is a concern not just for financial reasons but in order to improve our carbon footprint.

"We should be looking at why these places are using more power and assist where possible, possibly with home improvement grants, to improve the energy consumption of homes in that area."

Although higher consumption in the winter is to be expected experts at EON believe that people could be doing more to use less power.

Kevin Bryan, spokesman for EON, said: "As the weather in Bedfordshire would not vary greatly from town to town, the main reason for these differences in usage would be house age, house size and number of occupants and behaviours.

"The colder winter temperatures and darker nights inevitably lead to people using more energy, which is why we are offering advice to anyone who is concerned about how much they're using.

"We also want to make sure that people are on the right tariffs, and that vulnerable customers are aware of the additional support available to them."

People who are concerned about their energy consumption can contact EON's Winter Advice Bureau which offers help and guidance on how to cut energy bills during the winter period.

For more information visit www.eonenergy.com/winteradvice.