Brenda Allan, Dumbarton, said: “Everybody is going to struggle as a result of this. I don’t think they can justify this rise and they could give more back. I know it is going to be unaffordable for a lot of people. It’s pretty appaling they are hiking the prices up once again.” Kerry Joyce, Bellsmyre, said: “You aren’t getting value for money anymore. I was on a good deal where I got a lot of extras and different services. But the company NPower has now scrapped that. I am looking for another energy provider just now to see if I can get a better deal for my money. I will be directly affected by this as I will now need to pay more for a reduced service.” Ron Ellis, of Rhu, near Helensburgh said: “It won’t really affect me. We have got one where we renew it annually and during that time we aren’t affected by a price increase until we have to renew it.

“So we will probably be affected next August or September.” Vince Hamill, of Dumbarton, said: “I think it is excessive. Just looking at the real cost of fuel prices over the last five years I feel they have risen quite a bit. The energy companies have made what some £3.3billion in th elast year and at the same time people are facing hardship and fuel poverty.” This week we asked you about £18,000 being spent on dog fouling bins and bags.