Hundreds of thousands of households in Sussex will see their fuel bills rocket next month in another blow to families reeling from record food and petrol prices.

British Gas is to raise its energy bills by up to 18 per cent, blaming the increase on rising wholesale energy prices.

The price of standard gas will increase by 18 per cent and electricity will rise by 16 per cent from August 18.

It means the average annual dual fuel bill will rise by £190 a year from £1026 to £1216.

Now experts have warned that other energy providers will follow suit - sending the total annual gas bill for the county's 650,000 households soaring by £117 million.

The utility company warned earlier this year that it would consider increasing consumer bills after owner Centrica said it expected profits from households in the first half of 2011 to be 50 per cent less than that achieved the previous year.

Community leaders criticised the price hikes.

Jim Baker, the director at Age Concern in Prestonville Street, Brighton, said the price rises were completely unacceptable and would leave older people and families on average and low incomes facing yet another harsh winter.

He said: “Older people are already struggling to support their grown up children who cannot afford to leave home.

“In this economic climate, when people are losing their jobs, this will add yet another burden to families. The timing could not be worse.”

Debt advisor John Taylor, from St Luke's Advice Centre, in Exeter Street, Brighton, said the move would push people living on tight budgets over the edge.

He said: “I see people all the time who are struggling to pay their basic bills and these increases will mean that many of them simply won't be able to eat.”

Average food prices in the UK jumped by 4.9% in the year to May to a 23-month high and experts predict that food prices will soar by as much as 30% over the next 10 years.

Meanwhile, more than three in four motorists are cutting back on spending or driving due to rising fuel prices, according to an AA/Populus survey.

Just under half of those polled blame the Government for the high cost of fuel.

The number of people who say they have been affected by the hike in petrol and diesel prices has risen from 63% at Christmas to 76% now.