A SOMERSET MP has urged more rural families to install wood burners to help weather the energy crisis.

Ian Liddell-Grainger says wood stoves provide a cheap, reliable and highly efficient heat source.

He has denounced ‘urban environmentalists’ been campaigning against their use.

Mr Liddell-Grainger, MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, said energy price increases are likely to impact heaviest on rural households that rely either on electricity, oil or bottled gas for heating and cooking.

“Having no piped gas supply really reduces their options for keeping their houses warm and themselves properly fed,” he said.

“It is clear all us living in the countryside are going to have to keep a particularly close eye on our elderly and vulnerable neighbours this winter.

“But I would urge anyone who hasn’t yet done so to consider installing a wood burner.

"Modern wood stoves are highly efficient and even a small one will provide a phenomenal amount of background heat not just for a room but for an entire house.

“Installation costs are relatively modest - certainly in terms of a modern quarterly fuel bill - and there are ample stocks of properly-seasoned fuel available.”

Mr Liddell-Grainger said people tempted to invest on a stove should not be put off by recent campaigns against the use of wood-burning technology.

He added: “I can quite accept that it is not desirable to have the air in towns and cities further polluted by the burning of unseasoned wood bought from a corner shop and often used in stoves which have been installed for cosmetic reasons - and I am glad the Government has already taken action to curb that kind of use.

“But people in rural areas, where air quality is not an issue, need no lessons from urban environmentalists about burning wood.

"It is a traditional country fuel that used to heat nearly every home until slightly more convenient options became available.

“Now that the costs of oil, electricity and bottled gas are rising so alarmingly it makes absolute common sense to turn back to wood - and I hope many families will seriously consider making the investment.”