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  1. 'We need help,' say small businesses

    Woman making ice cream

    Unlike domestic customers, energy bills for businesses are not capped and the pain of rising costs is proving acute for many companies, especially small firms.

    Rosemary Brown, director of luxury ice cream-maker Bluebell Dairy, tells the BBC that a year and a half ago the firm's energy bills were about £35,000 but it is now looking at a cost of £80,000.

    "If we were to renew tomorrow, the stark reality they would be up at about £225,000 a year, which is such a huge increase," she said.

    Liz Truss is expected to announce help for businesses when she outlines an energy relief package this morning, something welcomed by Brown.

    “Certainly at the moment we need to cap the energy costs. We need help with capping the energy costs for the immediate future."