'All this in one of the richest countries in the world - lives are at risk in doing nothing!' - Your Letters plus a daring fire performer in our Picture from the Past series

I write in the vain hope that there will be an end to fuel poverty once and for all, no matter how, no matter when, but the sooner the better as lives are at risk in doing nothing. The facts are these:

The number of households struggling with their energy bills has hit 12.1 million – 43%! Some spend 20% of their income on energy! 3.2 million in fuel poverty are pensioners, 964,000 are in 'deep fuel poverty', spending more than 20% on energy. All this in one of the richest countries in the world and where this government has taken away their winter fuel allowance, a buffer against rising fuel prices. How cruel is that? Is it any wonder that Starmer and Reeves are so unpopular, while suppliers are making hay on green policies, net zero and ever increasing taxes.

Energy prices are now falling but consumers are paying £35 a year more via the disconnected 'price cap'. It makes no sense. What are you going to do about this travesty?

M Cooper, West Midlands

​Just like scene from Porridge

I thought for a second I was reading a script from the TV series 'Porridge' but I checked I was reading the Express and Star (October 18). A prisoner who escaped was to be sentenced for that offence at Wolverhampton Crown Court but could not because he was too intoxicated. Have I missed something here? Have we have got someone in our prison service with a franchise with a licence to sell alcohol? It appears so.

Is it any wonder criminals commit crime, it seems they are far better off inside prison; all meals provided, phones, TV, internet, sport, gyms, no locked doors. Is it any wonder we have so much crime? These criminals commit crime just to get sent back to this place of plenty where they live worry free and all bills paid for them.

Let's give our prisons pub names because it sounds to me more like freehouses instead of prisons.

Pete Lowe, Brierley Hill

Gaza peace and end to demos

Hopefully there will now be peace in Gaza and a long term strategy to allow Middle Eastern countries to work together. Would this now be time for those resident in the UK to stop all their protests over Gaza and the Palestinians and if so inclined to go and help in Gaza itself, instead of costing the UK a lot of time, effort and money policing their demonstrations?

Peter Steggles, Rushbury

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