``People will die this winter because they can't stay warm''
``This is the first time that I have felt in years that people will die this winter because they can't stay warm,'' said Joe Kennedy, founder of the nonprofit Citizens Energy Corp. ``This is by far the most grim and scary set of storm clouds on the horizon that I have seen in 30 years in trying to address the needs of the poor and elderly, in terms of their heating needs that are coming this winter.''
A prolonged cold snap, high heating bills and an early start to the flu season caused thousands more pensioners to die last winter, it was claimed today.