Increasing costs for essential food items and energy have created a ‘second health emergency' after the Covid pandemic, councils have warned.

The Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Public Health said the rising cost of living was having significant health consequences, particularly in communities that already suffer higher levels of deprivation.

In their annual public health report, the two organisations said people with the least financial resilience were affected the most, but increasing numbers of people who were previously ‘just about managing' now needed support.

Last week the Government announced next year's public health grant will be £3.5bn, which was criticised by the LGA as ‘insufficient' in the face of ‘soaring demand'.