Families worried about rising fuel costs should buy a new home to reduce the impacts of soaring energy bills, according to one developer.

Persimmon Homes warned fuel cost increases could mean the average home ends up paying £400 more per year for gas and electricity.

A new build home could lead to savings on maintenance and bills thanks to energy efficiency features like better insulation, the firm said.

Anita Williams of Persimmon said the firm was "also responding to the tightening economy by offering house hunters a wide choice of purchasing options designed to make securing a home in the current climate as easy as possible".

The company said newer homes were proven to generate over 60 per cent less CO2 emissions than older properties, the equivalent of taking one car off British roads or a household driving 10,000 miles less per year.

Persimmon Homes was founded in 1972 and is one of the UK''s biggest house builders, running 24 regional offices across the UK.