Nearly a hundred excess winter deaths have occurred in Harrow.

According to the latest figures from the Officer of National Statistics (ONS) in the 2016 there were 80 excess deaths in the borough – an increase of 20 deaths compared to the year before.

Excess winter deaths are defined as the difference between the number of deaths in the winter months (December to March) compared with the previous (August to November) and following (April to July) three months.

London Assembly member for Harrow, Navin Shah, said: “It is extremely concerning to see this increase in excess winter deaths locally, and unacceptable that so many Londoners this winter will be trapped in cold homes.

“This is a deep and entirely preventable social injustice. Sadly, this tragic rise is likely to continue, unless significant action is taken to improve housing standards and address fuel poverty in the capital.

“Work is being undertaken at City Hall to tackle these issues, but it clear that we now need more support from the Government.

“I would also urge all homeowners, tenants and landlords whose properties are insufficiently insulated to bid for City Hall’s Warmer Homes scheme funding.”

The ONS has attributed the majority of these deaths to respiratory disease but a study from charities National Energy Action and E3G, also showed fuel poverty and cold homes to be a prevalent underlying factor.

Provisional figures by the ONS have also revealed in 2017 there were 4,200 excess winter deaths across the capital – an increase of 23 per cent compared to 2016.