Protesters gathered at a war memorial to mourn people killed by fuel poverty.

Extinction Rebellion Activists held a vigil at Old Steine, a war memorial in Brighton, this morning to demand the government to take action on excess deaths. 

The Office for National Statistics revealed 13,400 excess winter deaths last year - around a third of those were due to being cold and damp homes.

“I am part of a group of ordinary Brighton residents that gathers once a month to hold vigil, with the intention of giving people the opportunity to pause and take time out to reflect,” said Abbie Mead, a mental health worker from Brighton.

The 46-year-old added: “This January we are focusing on remembering those who have lost their lives due to fuel poverty. We hope to demonstrate, in these troubling times, the power of coming together in quiet reflection.”

The vigil is one of several events taking place in the UK this week organised by Fuel Poverty Action, Extinction Rebellion and other pressure groups.

The Argus: Campaigners were at the war memorial in BrightonCampaigners were at the war memorial in Brighton (Image: Extinction Rebellion)

Campaigners across the country are demanding the government ban forced switching of customers to prepayment meters by energy companies.

Fuel Poverty Action is proposing an Energy For All policy, which would include a universal, free amount of energy to cover people’s necessities like heating, lighting and cooking.

This would be paid for by ending all public money going towards fossil fuel subsidies, windfall taxes on energy company profits and implementing higher tariffs on excessive, luxury energy use.

The Argus: Protestors held signs up at their vigilProtestors held signs up at their vigil (Image: Extinction Rebellion)

Stuart Bretherton, a member of Fuel Poverty Action, said: “In the world’s sixth richest economy and one of Europe’s largest producers of oil and gas, failing to meet people’s basic energy needs is a political choice.

“Energy For All is a proposal for a system that works for people and the planet, not profiteers or polluters.

"The polar opposite of this is struggling people having their homes broken into, or meters switched remotely without warning to a method of payment that could prevent them from heating their home this winter.”