POULTRY farmers are seeing a sharp rise in their gas bills after having to turn up the heat during the cold snap.

Steven Hasel, who owns 46,000 chickens at a free-range farm in Holcombe Rogus, said they needed to be kept at 33C (91F).

During the recent cold weather, when temperatures dropped to -10C (14F), Mr Hasel said he spent nearly £5,000 — twice what he spent last year.

Chairman of the National Poultry Board for the National Farmers' Union, Charles Bourns, said farmers may have to ask the people they are selling the product to for extra payment to cover this extra cost, but said it would not be passed on to the customer.