BRITISH Gas has delivered a blow to households in Gloucestershire by announcing a hike in gas and electricity tariffs by 6 per cent from next month.
A total of 8.5 million households across the UK will be hit by the move.
The pre-winter increase comes just months after British Gas announced a 23 per cent leap in half-year profits at its residential arm to £345million.
Meanwhile, British Gas put gas and electricity tariffs up by 18 per cent and 16 per cent respectively in August 2011, blaming higher wholesale costs, but this was followed by a drop of 5 per cent in electricity tariffs in January when prices eased.
The latest price hike will come into effect in November.