ALMOST half of people in Scotland are worried whether they can pay gas and electric bills in the year ahead, according to a new survey.

A Survation poll commissioned by the Advice Direct Scotland charity found that 46 per cent of the 1,012 respondents worried about how they would manage to pay for heat, light and power after the latest hike in the energy price cap.

The cap, set by regulator Ofgem, will rise from £1,738 to £1,849 tomorrow, a further 6.4 per cent rise on bills, a total increase since 2021 of an eye-watering 62 per cent.

Warning the rise was heaping further pressure onto already stretched household budgets,  Advice Direct Scotland’s Conor Forbes said: “It has been a really tough start to the year for thousands of Scottish households, and this poll shows that worries about the cost of energy continue to prey on people’s minds.

“It’s important for people to focus on the practical things they can do, such as taking a meter reading around April 1, which will ensure that they are charged correctly.

“The most important thing to remember is that nobody should struggle alone and help is available.”