British Gas hikes gas prices 35%

British Gas hikes gas prices 35%" class="imageframe alignright" height="200" src="http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/British+Gas+engineer_1455_18708456_0_0_7517_300.jpg" width="200"/>British Gas owner Centrica is hiking gas prices by 35 per cent and electricity prices by nine per cent.

Dual fuel prices will rise 25 per cent – or £5.04 a week - and prepayment customers will see prices rise 21 per cent.

Centrica has blamed the hikes on the rise in wholesale gas and electricity prices of 89 per cent and 72 per cent respectively since last winter.

British Gas managing director Phil Bentley said: "We very much regret that we have had to make this decision at a time when many household budgets are already under pressure.

"The simple fact though, is that we have entered an era of unprecedented high world energy prices. The only answer to cope with higher energy prices, I'm afraid, is for all of us to be more energy efficient."

Last week EDF increased its energy prices by 17 per cent for electricity and 22 per cent for gas.

Further price rises from the remaining largest four energy providers are now expected.

A report last week from Centrica suggested average gas bills alone could rise to over £1,000 in the coming years.