Ceramics industry in plea for help with rising energy prices

British Ceramic Confederation chief executive Laura Cohen said gas prices were 10 times higher than a year ago

The Ukraine crisis has made the rising energy price situation "even worse", a UK ceramics manufacturing industry trade body says.

UK household energy bills could reach as high as £3,000 a year as oil and gas prices surge amid the conflict.

Spiralling energy costs are of concern for energy-intensive manufacturers including the ceramics industry.

The Stoke-on-Trent based British Ceramic Confederation said it needed government help.

Chief executive Laura Cohen said: "Now gas prices are 10 times what they were a year ago... energy prices as a whole for British manufacturers are internationally uncompetitive.

"The Ukraine crisis has made things even worse. We need government urgently to target some relief towards ceramics and other energy-intensive manufacturing sectors."

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has made the trading, banking and shipping sectors reluctant to buy Russian commodities, pushing up prices.

Spiralling energy costs are a major concern for energy-intensive manufacturers such as ceramics businesses