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BBC
Homeowners across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset say they are having to think about how much heating oil they use
Spikes in heating oil prices caused by the Iran war are forcing households in south-west England to use energy "sparingly".
People across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset said their bills had more than doubled during the conflict, which started when US-Israeli troops carried out air strikes on 28 February.
Many have told the BBC they feared families in rural areas who relied on heating oil would struggle to cope with the financial pressures of having to pay more, with local MPs calling on the government to help.
After the conflict started, Iran warned vessels not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf and threatened to open fire on ships who attempted to move through the area.
About 20% of the world's oil and gas is shipped through the strait, but marine traffic has slowed has the war began.
Gerald Salvat, a heating oil customer from north Devon, said he was quoted £345 for 500 litres (110 gallons) of oil before the war.
In his most recent quote on 10 March, Salvat said the quote had risen to £825 for the same amount.
He added: "I think, for some families, it's really going to be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
"On top of all the other pressures of price increases that we're going to see from oil going up so much, this is a significant amount that people are going to have to find extra each month."
Gerald Salvat said he felt some families would have issues keeping up with heating oil bills
Alan Dickinson, who lives in Bokiddick, Cornwall, said he was struggling to afford to heat his own home.
Dickinson, who is disabled, said the quotes he had received since the war started had shot up to more than £770.
"This is double what my last order was before the war," the 67-year-old said.
"I have about 100 litres (22 gallons) left in my tank, but I'm only using the central heating sparingly.
"I'm a blue badge holder and have a heart and lung condition and need to keep warm."
Alan Dickinson
Alan Dickinson said he was being careful with how much central heating he used at home
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: "Heating oil prices have spiked sharply, and I know that, for families in rural communities, that is a real and urgent problem."
The government said England would receive £27m of the funding, which would be be "targeted" to help low-income households in rural communities, and be distributed by local authorities via the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), which comes into effect from 1 April.
It said the funding had been allocated based on census data, reflecting where the greatest need was.
The government said it also planned to introduce consumer protections for heating oil customers.
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