RISING fuel prices are putting lives at risk, and the Government must act to protect vulnerable members of society - that's the view aired by Bridgwater's Green Party spokesman this week.

Charles Graham, who stood for the Greens in the last General Election, is calling for urgent Government action to tackle a problem which sees many elderly people unable to afford proper heating.

He said: "Rising fuel prices are causing not only poverty, but real suffering and in the worst cases death. This is totally unacceptable.

"Rising prices are caused by over-consumption of the rich, but hit the poor the most. There is a complete failure of our Government to tackle the issue.

"There are fair and green ways to solve this problem - it is time for the Government to act, before more people suffer and die."