Councillors have agreed to urgently lobby the government for more cash aid to help the most vulnerable amid the cost of living crisis this winter.

Millions of people in the UK face soaring gas and heating bills, which are due to rise from £1,971 to £2,500 for a typical household from October 1.

This comes amid high price inflation of food and energy, following the Covid pandemic and amid the Russian invasion of the Ukraine.

Kent County Council's (KCC) cabinet reviewed how best to tackle the cost of living crisis at County Hall, Maidstone earlier today. Around 1.8million people live in Kent.

KCC leader Roger Gough (Con) has urged councils and local communities to work closely together to provide support to those most in need this winter.

Cllr Gough said: "All of us, as agencies and leaders of Kent, must respond to this in the best possible way."

He added: "It's important we do our very best in addressing the crisis over the coming weeks and months."

An emergency meeting of Kent council leaders was convened on September 15, who agreed on an urgent need to lobby the government for more cash aid.

They also considered standing up Covid community hubs again. During the pandemic, the hubs supported residents with food and emergency supplies. Previous venues included community centres and youth hubs.

Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite (Con), sitting in today's cabinet meeting, suggested using libraries as a social hub for lonely residents to meet in winter.

The Kent county councillor said: "As councillors we have been used to responding to residents who shout louder and want things done.

"Covid was the reverse, it all flipped. We had to be careful and caring to people who were not shouting. It was the silent ones causing us the big concern."

'Talking to the parish councils, there are real concerns there will be some serious problems for individuals this winter'

He added: "The county council through its library network - and presence in communities - has an opportunity to say these are welcoming places to be amongst other people and talk about the burden."

Residents can also be supported through KCC's financial hardship programme, which includes cash set aside from £10million emergency coronavirus reserve.

Those eligible for support include low-income households in financial distress, struggling businesses and children on free school meals. A council tax rebate of £150 is accessible for households in Bands A to D.

Refer Kent has also launched online today, supporting people in distress, who can be signposted to the right organisation.

KCC's cabinet member for communities, Cllr Mike Hill (Con), said: "My concern will be the fallout from the crisis.

"Talking to the parish councils, there are real concerns there will be some serious problems for individuals this winter."

Meanwhile, Liz Truss' government has recently put a cap on UK electricity and gas bills to around £2,500-a-year for the next two years from October 1.

Other support schemes include a £650 payment for eight million people on benefits, such as universal credit, disabilities and pensions.

The cost of living crisis will be debated by KCC's full council at the next County Hall meeting on October 20.