Pensioners turned up the heat on Ilford North candidates at an election hustings this afternoon - but a question on energy prices revealed they might think twice from doing so in their homes.

Among the questions at the Redbridge Pensioners’ Form meeting held at Fullwell Cross Library, Barkingside, was one about freezing energy prices.

Labour’s Wes Streeting warned energy firms his party would not just freeze prices they would scrap watchdog Offgem and bring in a replacement with more teeth.

The Green Party’s David Reynolds said privatisation of gas and electricity was a disaster and Ukip’s Phillip Hyde insisted the government would need to put money into coal and nuclear energy.

Responding to a suggestion by Gary Staight – who was standing in for Lib Dem Rich Clare who was attending a funeral – for people to switch suppliers independent Doris Osen chastised him saying: “It’s not good to tell and elderly person to switch as it’s not easy.”

Conservative Lee Scott said suppliers needed to give customers the best tariff and new energy sources needed to be developed.

Mr Staight highlighted the coalition’s record on insulation saying it had doubled in the past two and a half years.

Other questions to the panel featured the Human Rights Act, social housing, schools and accessibility of railway stations.

For a full report on the meeting see Thursday’s Recorder.