THE number of private tenants in Clackmannanshire struggling to heat their homes has almost doubled in the space of a single year, according to new figures.

Thousands more Scots have appealed to the Scottish Welfare Fund for help with heating or fuel bills; however, for those in the Wee County the need for support appears much greater.

In 2013-14, there was a combined total of 275 applications from private tenants in Clacks for Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants.

However, in 2013-14 the number spiked to 530, representing a real-time increase of more than 92 per cent.

At the same time, submissions from social housing residents only increased by 15, or just 2.5 per cent, from 595 to 610.

The total increase in applications, from both private and local authority residents combined, stands at almost 83 per cent -- well above the national average of 50 per cent.

The figures were revealed by a Freedom of Information request from the Scottish Liberal Democrats, sparking a fierce response from across the parties.

Dr Richard Simpson MSP described the situation as an "absolute disgrace" and called for greater focus on a long-term strategy to combat fuel poverty.

He added: "The reality is that people are faced with the devastating choice of whether to heat their home or provide food for the table.

“It is inexcusable that after ten years in government, the SNP have failed to meet their target in eradicating fuel poverty by 2016 and instead we have [all these] households in the Wee County relying on heating and fuel bill assistance.

“The SNP should be ashamed of themselves, as yet again they are failing the most vulnerable people in Clackmannanshire and across Scotland."

Willie Rennie, the Liberal Democrats MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said: “Places like Clackmannanshire have seen big increases in applications for crisis loans. SNP Ministers should not rely on these short term measures to counteract the fact they are not making much progress on reducing fuel poverty.

“Official statistics recently showed a more than a third of households are in fuel poverty and that there had been no real change in this rate. It is time that the Scottish Government got serious about ensuring people can heat their homes."

A Scottish Government spokesman said it remained committed to eradicating fuel poverty and has allocated over half a billion pounds since 2009 to help residents heat their homes affordably.

Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, said: “It is a sad fact that due to the policies of the Tory UK Government that so many people in communities across Clackmannanshire are struggling to make ends meet.

“In particular, when energy prices have risen four times faster than household incomes since 2003, it’s hardly surprising that more and more people have had to seek assistance to pay their energy bills but it’s absolutely right that the Scottish Government is stepping in and doing everything it can to help.

“Of course, Scotland should not be in the position of having to mitigate the austerity agenda of a Tory government which people here have completely rejected and until full social and economic powers are in Scotland’s hands, the SNP will do everything we can with the powers we have now to protect and support those in need.”