THOUSANDS are expected to march and rally in Britain today in a rising tide of rage demanding the right to warmth.

In more than 40 towns and cities protesters will occupy public buildings to “warm up” as a shocking new report reveals that 6.9 million disabled and other vulnerable people are shivering in damp homes because they cannot afford to heat them.

Half the UK’s general population are desperately trying to cut energy use, according to the YouGov figures released to mark the Warm This Winter Day of Action.

The number of people “self-disconnecting” because they cannot afford expensive pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meters has reached “epidemic proportions,” says the report. 

Victims include elderly and disabled people, young families and people already suffering serious health conditions.

The British government last month achieved the unenviable record of allowing the highest energy bills in the world to be inflicted upon its people.

Charities and campaigning organisations under the name the End Fuel Poverty Coalition have organised the day of action.

They say billions of pounds in extra profits pocketed by energy supply fat cats are being supplemented by billions more in taxpayer-funded subsidies.

Coalition organiser Simon Francis said: “If people self-disconnect or drastically reduce their energy use, they are at risk from the severe health complications of living in a cold, damp home.

“People on low incomes have always saved energy. But now rising costs are forcing them to go much further, risking their own health by cutting energy use to the point that they are living in a cold, damp home. 

“Children and those who are elderly, disabled or have pre-existing medical conditions are especially vulnerable this winter.”

Jelly Moring, organiser at Parents for Future UK, said: “It is appalling and unjustifiable that millions of vulnerable households are struggling to pay their energy bills and keep their homes warm this winter while energy companies make record profits.” 

Tessa Khan, executive director of charity Uplift, said: “If the government can subsidise oil and gas companies to the tune of many billions to develop new North Sea fields, which by the way will do nothing to help people, it can and must plough equivalent amounts into insulating homes, which is guaranteed to reduce people’s bills and make sure the elderly, disabled, parents with small children can stay warm this winter.”

Dan Paskins, of charity Save the Children, said: “With the cost-of-living payments from the UK government not coming in until April, millions of families face a miserable winter where they may struggle to heat their homes. 

“The UK government needs to step in now and provide cost of living support this winter, and not wait to bring in further measures in the spring.”

Ruth London of Fuel Poverty Action said: “There is growing anger at the absolute poverty so many people are facing now — it feels like going back to Victorian times. 

“Energy corporations are making eye-watering profits from the money we are paying them.”

Fuel poverty victim Anne Vivian-Smith from Nottingham will be among speakers at a rally in London today.

“I spend my day sitting in the cold with four thermal layers, two blankets, and a hot-water bottle,” she said.

“We just found out the cost of heating a room for one hour is £2. So if I put the heating on for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening that’s nearly £30 a week, £122 a month. Just for heating. It’s impossible to afford that. 

“I’ve become one of those people spending time on the bus.”