Wirral's council leader says plans for more help are on the way for residents who are suffering through the 'biggest crisis' she has witnessed.

But council leader Janette Williamson said more funding is urgently needed from the UK government to help tackle the cost of living crisis over the winter.

Labour Cllr Williamson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Has the council got enough funding? I think the government needs to step up and help residents out. At the moment, I couldn't imagine any council doing it on their own."

The latest predictions for the October price cap suggest households could be facing annual bills of £3528, with rises expected in January 2023 to £4266 and then £4427 in April.

In May, the UK Government announced support including a £400 grant as well as a £150 Council tax rebate for those in council tax bands A-D as well as additional support in other areas.

In July, the first payments went out for an additional £650 for one in four households but the government has said it will not introduce new measures until a new Conservative Party leader is elected.

Councillor Williamson, a councillor of 10 years and council leader for two said, "It is heartbreaking and it is so worrying to watch people go through this. This is the biggest crisis I have witnessed personally and as a politician.

"I have had residents sobbing on the phone because they cannot feed themselves or cannot feed their children. I have never witnessed such a crisis of this scale."

She said one of her constituents could not afford to charge their wheelchair as often, leaving them regularly housebound.

Earlier this year, the council provided £113,000 to help with people's energy bills through ring-fenced money saved from council heating and £1.6 million was used to ensure kids do not go hungry over the summer holidays.

However she believes this is not enough, adding: "I will be asking officers to make sure that particularly going into the winter, no one goes hungry. As council leader I have to ensure that our budget is balanced but underneath is the real human side of what is happening to this country."

Councillor Williamson was also critical of remarks made by former Chancellor Rishi Sunak on the leadership campaign trail about money given to councils in poorer areas, including the Wirral. 

She said: "We have the Regeneration Fund and I would never criticise that and always welcome it." but she said she is concerned about the future of levelling up funding, adding: "While not a wholly deprived borough, there are real pockets of deprivation here."