MINISTERS must provide more support for people living in poverty with lung and heart conditions as freezing temperatures put them in greater risk, campaigners said today.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 1.3 million people living in poverty in private rented homes suffer from a cardiovascular or respiratory condition.

People with such conditions are more likely to need hospital treatment and to die from the cold, with this risk increasing for people who are too poor to afford to keep warm.

The ONS figures show that about a fifth of people with such conditions live in poverty, with coastal areas of north-west England worst affected.

Blackpool was found to have the highest proportion of people with cardiovascular or respiratory problems living in poverty (4.6 per cent), while Richmond upon Thames had the least (1.6 per cent).

Commenting on the figures, Asthma and Lung UK director of external affairs Henry Gregg said: “For years, our lungs have been a clear victim of inequality and poverty.

“If you live in the poorest parts of the country, you’re seven times more likely to die from lung disease than if you live in the wealthiest.”

Mr Gregg said that cold weather was particularly dangerous as it can trigger potentially life-threatening asthma attacks and cause other lung conditions to worsen significantly.

“Winter is already a deadly time for people with lung conditions and the last thing we want to see is more people being rushed to hospital fighting for breath because of exposure to the cold,” he said.

“We are urging the government to step up for people with lung conditions and introduce more targeted support to help people keep their homes warm this winter.”