THE price of fuel and energy is one of the biggest concerns for people in Whitchurch as the town struggles with the cost of living crisis.

The Whitchurch Herald took to the streets of the town last week to gauge reaction as inflation hit nine per cent.

Meanwhile, energy prices have jumped, fuel prices continue to rise and people are seeing the cost of their weekly food shop increase.

Many people in the town said that they are struggling with the cost of their bills.

And they gave their opinions on the causes and how the Government could help.

Margaret Loven, criticised "petty squabbling" from politicians.

She said: "It is probably affecting people like myself on a fixed income pension.

"It is the fuel price mainly, domestic fuel. Personally, I have turned my heating down one degree and I have it on one hour per day less just to save on fuel bills really.

"To be honest I think everything is broken because there is too much politics and not enough work being done. When they are doing all this petty squabbling like schoolchildren then what is happening to the country?

"And at the moment they are so broken I do not know how we are going to fix it.

"I think it is high time we reviewed this two-party, three-party system which was originally brought in so that one side acted as the Devil's advocate.

"Now all they do is vie for power and behave like schoolboys and I think we are all suffering as a result."

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Danny Whittingham said he had seen a sharp rise in the price of basic foods.

He explained: "Butter, that has gone up about 40p, it is unreal sometimes with how it just shot up.

"Electricity, I am lucky in that respect, I did a deal with the electricity company about four or five months ago where I could pay so much a month because my contract had ended.

"It was £60 a month and now people are paying £100 a month, it is out of proportion.

"My dad used to get petrol for the car and he used to pay £1 and get four gallons of petrol, I think it was about 25p per gallon.

"But everything has gone up and now it has gone absolutely ridiculous.

"I would not want to be 21 or 25 married and having little kids."

Martin Groves said he believed the Government should cut tax on fuel.

He added: "People are not using their cars because it is costing too much to get them out.

"A lot of people are not going into town to do shopping. Usually on a Friday, this place is chock-a-block but as you can see today, it is a lot quieter."

"Bring the fuel prices down, people can start using their cars."

The Bank of England predicted last week that inflation could hit 10 per cent this year.