Millions of Britons brace for across-the-board bill rises in ‘awful April’

Food banks are likely to experience a rise in demand as people’s household bills increase. Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images

Millions of households are bracing themselves for a raft of price increases across a range of bills – from energy and water to car tax and the TV licence – that take effect on Tuesday.

With so many costs rising at once – prompting some to label this month “awful April” – the government is facing fresh calls to take action to limit the impact of some of the increases. The Liberal Democrats claimed ministers needed to “get a grip” on energy bills.