Brits are struggling to meet the cost of rising energy bills, according to the latest Personal Credit Index from CreditExpert.

According to the report, eight million UK adults (17 per cent) have had to cut back on their spending in order to meet the costs of increasing energy prices.

CreditExpert's index, which measures consumer confidence, has fallen to 95 from 100 just six months ago.

More than four in ten of the adults questioned said that they are worried about meeting ordinary household bills.

"The recent increases in household bills have hit many people hard and caused them to cut back on their spending," says Jim Hodgkins, managing director of CreditExpert.co.uk.

"The latest Personal Credit Index also reveals that many adults have increased their borrowings in the last quarter – and they could be borrowing even more in coming months to see themselves through the festive period."

It was also found that there is growing awareness among consumers that energy saving measures, such as switching off lights and turning off electrical goods, can help them to cut down on their bills.

A home improvement loan could enable you to make energy saving improvements to your house and cut the cost of your bills.