the biggest rise in energy prices in living memory has come into force. charities say millions of families across the country will struggle to cope with the cost of gas and electricity. it's either feed them or heat my house, or i don't eat and they eat. so, yeah. it's not great, it's over £300 a month now. we'll explain what's happening and why. also this lunchtime: efforts continue to try to get people out of the besieged ukrainian city of mariupol — where tens of thousands are still trapped. the artificial pancreas which it's hoped will improve the lives of people living with type one diabetes. another record level of covid infections — nearly five million people

across the uk are believed to have had the virus last week. and, once the seat of royal power in northern england — the 800—year—old clifford's tower in york re—opens to the public. and coming up on the bbc news channel. the 2022 world cup draw takes place in qatar today, with england one of the top seeds and scotland or wales looking to book their place. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc�*s news at one. the biggest rise in energy prices in living memory has come into effect in britain, just as millions of households face increases in other bills and national insurance payments.

on average, gas and electricity bills will cost an extra £700 a year — a sum charities say millions of households will struggle to pay. the chancellor, rishi sunak, has previously pledged to "take the sting out" of the price rises. our consumer affairs correspondent colletta smith has this report. there's more chances of us going into debt with the rises of the electricity and water bill, the council tax, everything is having a rise, plus the petrol. mum of three qurat is making small changes in the house to try and keep those energy bills under control. my washing, i normally do it throughout the week but now i'm doing it over the weekend. so it's a big wash. i've stopped using my hairdryer because it takes about 45 minutes to dry my hair. what the kids do is reach up to the heating, "mummy, we're cold, mummy, we're cold," so where are they supposed to go? at westminster primary on the other side of town, they already give food parcels

to some families. but now they've started collecting blankets, dressing gowns and hot water bottles to give out as well. we are totally expecting that as the energy prices really bite that more of our families will be pushed into a poverty situation and therefore the children will be coming to us having maybe not eaten a warm meal every day, they may be coming from a cold home or not slept properly. and the impact on that then for their education is quite extreme. the uk's biggest supplier is british gas. the boss says they make very little profit from customers, but their oil and gas extraction has made a lot more money. 80% of the additional profits have gone to the government. so i think the profits have gone up byjust over 500 million, and the tax bill has gone up byjust over 400. that is exactly right. i'm looking for no sympathy, that's how the system should work. and i'm very comfortable. the question is how government uses those additional funds.

the government have already announced a couple of things to try and help with those energy price rises. they're taking £150 off most people's council tax bill in england, and from september, there will be £200 available to most households in england, scotland and wales, and that will be through your energy bill, but it's a loan so you have to pay it back. even if you qualify for both of those things, that will still only cover around half of the rise that we are seeing in a typical household's energy bills. it's either feed them or heat my house. or i don't eat and they eat. so, yeah. it's not great, it's over £300 a month now. yeah, yeah, it's ridiculous, isn't it? it's ridiculous, the price of it now. got a text this morning, funnily enough, off british gas, asking me to send my reading in. must be preparing us for the worst. crazy. and with bills going up again in the autumn, people will keep trying to cut back where they can. people are really struggling.

they bring their washing in, they normally leave it for washing and drying, but nowadays, they wash it at home and they leave it for dry, or they get it washed here and they take it home to dry. with qurat�*s energy bills going up by at least £30 a month, she doesn't think the government to help will cover the extra. it's not enough. £200, it won't make up to the months that we will be paying for. it's not going to help. so in this time, their lights are going off to keep the bills down. ——so in this home, their lights are going off to keep the bills down. coletta smith, bbc news, in bradford. our personal finance correspondent kevin peachey is with me. such a difficult day for so many, explain what's going on here and what this means. its explain what's going on here and what this means.— explain what's going on here and what this means. its price cap sets a limit on the _ what this means. its price cap sets a limit on the price _ what this means. its price cap sets a limit on the price we _ what this means. its price cap sets a limit on the price we can - what this means. its price cap sets a limit on the price we can be - a limit on the price we can be charged for our energy, affecting 22 million households and clearly it's a big impact today because today is

the day every six months it will be changed, so today and at the start of october if you use a typical amount of energy will pay about £2000 a year, if you use more your pay more and less you'll pay less or if your cheap fixed deal has come to an end you may see your bill rising. what are the key factors behind this huge rise? it’s what are the key factors behind this hue rise? �*, ., ., huge rise? it's about the wholesale rice and huge rise? it's about the wholesale price and we _ huge rise? it's about the wholesale price and we can — huge rise? it's about the wholesale price and we can have _ huge rise? it's about the wholesale price and we can have a _ huge rise? it's about the wholesale price and we can have a look- huge rise? it's about the wholesale price and we can have a look at - huge rise? it's about the wholesale price and we can have a look at the| price and we can have a look at the wholesale price which suppliers pay and which is being passed onto consumers so that's gone up by six times in the past year and as we can see that there's been some huge unprecedented peaks. why? the reason is our energy demand, as we all wake up is our energy demand, as we all wake up from covid, as economies and businesses woke up, then demand

surged and we've also had low levels of gas storage in europe. also, there's been a lack of wind which has meant renewable generation has fallen as a result and we had to rely more upon gas. looking ahead to six months�* time, the likelihood of bills getting even higher, that�*s a lot to do with the war in ukraine and the effects on russian supply. clearly, there�*s the potentialfor that to be limited or even withdrawn and that�*s going to keep international prices high. the wholesale price high and eventually our bills as well.— our bills as well. thank you very much. higher energy prices aren�*t the only reasons households and businesses are feeling a squeeze on their finances, as the cost of living increases. council tax bills are also on the rise across england, scotland and wales, with the majority of households seeing a total increase of about 3% — an average of £67 a year. to offset energy price rises, the government is offering a £150

rebate for about 20 million households in england, in bands a to d. water bills are also rising, going up an average of £7 a year in england and wales. on 6th april, national insurance contributions will rise by i.25%, which the government says will help clear the nhs backlog and contribute towards social care costs. also on that date, two and a half million workers see their income rise by 59p hour to £9.50. so, with huge pressures on household budgets, what more can the government do to alleviate the financial burden? here�*s our political correspondent, helen catt. the price rises today are just the start of what is likely to be a long—running debate over how the government should help people with the higher cost of living. the

measures already announced by rishi sunak are worth billions. ministers say there have to be linnets. it�*s say there have to be linnets. it's auoin to say there have to be linnets. it's going to be _ say there have to be linnets. it�*s going to be hard and we're going to going to be hard and we�*re going to have to work together to get through it. i know that the chancellor is looking closely at the impact it�*s having on the individuals and their families and try to balance the assistance we give within the financial restraints we have got, in an economy that has just come out of an economy that has just come out of a pandemic which has spent 400 billion keeping people going through to extremely tough years. but billion keeping people going through to extremely tough years.— to extremely tough years. but for those facing _ to extremely tough years. but for those facing rising _ to extremely tough years. but for those facing rising bills _ to extremely tough years. but for those facing rising bills find - to extremely tough years. but for those facing rising bills find it's i those facing rising bills find it�*s enough? the labour leader has been meeting people in dewsbury and he says not. the meeting people in dewsbury and he sa s not. ., , , says not. the government response has been utterly — says not. the government response has been utterly pathetic, _ says not. the government response has been utterly pathetic, no - says not. the government response has been utterly pathetic, no real . has been utterly pathetic, no real response, no comfort to people who are so worried. what the labour party have said is the oil and gas companies in the north sea have made excess profits over and above what they expected because of the high level of pricing across the world. that windfall should be used to take

up that windfall should be used to take up to £600 of people�*s bills. that up to £600 of people's bills. that would deter— up to £600 of people's bills. that would deter investment, says the government, at a time when it is also looking to the north sea to help secure energy supply. in hull liberal democrats leader said vat should be cut. irate liberal democrats leader said vat should be cut.— liberal democrats leader said vat should be cut. we want to get extra hel for should be cut. we want to get extra help for pupils _ should be cut. we want to get extra help for pupils energy _ should be cut. we want to get extra help for pupils energy bills - should be cut. we want to get extra help for pupils energy bills if - should be cut. we want to get extra help for pupils energy bills if they . help for pupils energy bills if they are on benefits or struggling and that would be hundreds of extra pounds. so, we have a very different policy from the conservatives who i think are letting people down and not taking the action that�*s needed in this cost of living and urgency. there are real worries in westminster, including among conservative mps, about what�*s going to happen as costs keep going up. the impact of the national insurance rise, which starts next week, will be reduced injuly when rise, which starts next week, will be reduced in july when further changes be reduced injuly when further changes come into force be reduced in july when further changes come into force but be reduced injuly when further changes come into force but in the autumn it�*s also expected the energy price cap will rise again. there is a pretty widespread expectation that the government is likely to have to offer more at some point.-

the government is likely to have to offer more at some point. instead of offerin: a offer more at some point. instead of offering a £200 _ offer more at some point. instead of offering a £200 loan, _ offer more at some point. instead of offering a £200 loan, which - offer more at some point. instead of offering a £200 loan, which the - offering a £200 loan, which the government plans to claw back, things like that need to be converted into grants and if the government can�*t do anything about the wholesale price of energy, which we accept they are internationally traded commodities, then it needs to be doing more to take the edge off and put money in people�*s pockets. as bills keep increasing, so will the political heat. and you can find more further information and advice about the cost of living on our website — bbc.co.uk/news. a red cross convoy is travelling to the besieged ukrainian city of mariupol, after being given security guarantees by both sides in the conflict, in the hope of getting residents out of the city. tens of thousands of people are trapped there, following weeks of russian bombardment. previous attempts to establish humanitarian corridors in south—eastern ukraine haven�*t worked because ceasefires didn�*t hold.

from lviv, anna foster sent this report. this is what weeks of shelling has done to mariupol, which is to be home to 400,000 people. the red cross says its convoy is moving closer to those still trapped inside. but it didn�*t get permission to bring badly needed humanitarian aid. victoria and her two children fled to this shelter in lviv from mariupol. they were hiding with hundreds of others in the theatre when it was bombed. her two—year—old daughter anastasia was buried under the rubble. how did you escape from mariupol? irate the rubble. how did you escape from mariu ol? ~ ., the rubble. how did you escape from mariuol? ~ ., mariupol? we were in a car with blown out _ mariupol? we were in a car with blown out windows. _ mariupol? we were in a car with blown out windows. it _ mariupol? we were in a car with blown out windows. it was - mariupol? we were in a car with i blown out windows. it was terrible to see a dead bodies. i was really scared. and there was no city, no

buildings. because they were destroyed. you could see parts of the bodies, a leg, and arm. we covered the eyes of the children because we didn�*t want them to see it. because we didn't want them to see it. , , ., ., because we didn't want them to see it. so, this is the theatre and you can see the _ it. so, this is the theatre and you can see the damage. _ it. so, this is the theatre and you can see the damage. you - it. so, this is the theatre and you can see the damage. you and - it. so, this is the theatre and you| can see the damage. you and the children were here. this is where most of the people were. victoria remembers the moment the bomb hit and her daughter vanished. some blankets fell _ and her daughter vanished. some blankets fell on _ and her daughter vanished. some blankets fell on my _ and her daughter vanished. some blankets fell on my daughter - and her daughtervanished. fine blankets fell on my daughter before the rubble. she fell facedown so she was protected. if the stones had fallen on her, she wouldn�*t have

survived. it�*s like a gift from god. it's survived. it�*s like a gift from god. it�*s more than a miracle. more? survived. it's like a gift from god. it's more than a miracle.- it's more than a miracle. now the family are — it's more than a miracle. now the family are safe _ it's more than a miracle. now the family are safe in _ it's more than a miracle. now the family are safe in lviv _ it's more than a miracle. now the family are safe in lviv and - it's more than a miracle. now the j family are safe in lviv and praying that more people can follow them out of mariupol. hopes are fading that the humanitarian corridor will be opened out of mariupol today. the international committee of the red cross has said it does have a convoy of three cars moving towards the city but so far they have said it�*s closed and can�*t get in. there was hope they would be able to link up with buses and bring residents out. it's with buses and bring residents out. it�*s after 3pm now in ukraine and it�*s highly unlikely they would be able to make the journey as dangerous in the dark. there�*s every chance that won�*t happen today, which would of course bring further distress to those tens of thousands of people who remain trapped in

mariupol. elsewhere in ukraine there are suggestions from the presidents office that treats may be starting to move away from kyiv as russia promised but in the city of chernihiv, another place russia had promised to pull back from to concentrate its efforts elsewhere, we�*ve heard from the governor that even though russian forces are moving away they are still in his words on ukrainian land and that means he still doesn�*t believe that area is safe. studio: thank you. russian officials say ukrainian helicopters have carried out a strike on a fuel storage facility in the west of russia. emergency services say 170 personnel are trying to put out a fire in belgorod. ukraine hasn�*t commented, but ukrainian aircraft haven�*t hit targets in russia before. the kremlin says the attack will hinder peace talks. let�*s go live now to jenny hill in moscow. what do we know about what�*s happened in belgorod?

very happened in belgorod? little. this is the first time that very little. this is the first time that russia since the beginning of the invasion has reported a ukrainian attack on its territory, but it is not something that has been independently verified. this came from the governor of the region of belgorord who said two ukrainian military helicopters carried out an attack which triggered a fire which the emergency services are still trying to put out. know independent verification, what is interesting is russia�*s response which has been muted so far, surprisingly so, given that normally moscow seizes any opportunity to cast ukraine as the aggressor, the governor of the neighbouring region which borders ukraine said he is putting security forces ones on heightened state of alert but we are not seeing much in the way of belligerent language. it is tempting to wonder having boasted

of having aerial superiority they are feeling humiliated by what would be a successful attack on the territory. the kremlin has warned that this might impact peace talks which are continuing again, today, in an online format, a spokesman for the kremlin said this does not create comfortable conditions for the continuation of negotiations. thank you. our top story this lunchtime. millions of people will see a steep rise in their energy bills from today — the largest in living memory. and coming up — it�*s a big day in football, as the draw is made in qatar for the world cup finals. coming up on the bbc news channel. headingley cricket ground is once again allowed to host test matches, after yorkshire members voted in favour of changes, after the club�*s racism scandal.

hundreds of people in england who have type 1 diabetes are testing a potentially life—changing artificial pancreas. it uses a sensor under the skin to monitor blood sugar levels, which can mean better control of the condition, minimising the risks of high and low blood sugar levels that can lead to serious complications. our medical editor fergus walsh has the story. just want to pull this down, just do your height. six—year—old charlotte from lancashire is one of 400,000 people in the uk with type 1 diabetes. can i see? of course. her body can�*t make insulin, the hormone which regulates blood sugar levels. you can give me hand a bit of a squeeze on this side. as part of a trial she has a sensor

on her arm which continuously monitors her blood glucose and sends readings to this pump, which automatically delivers the insulin she needs. it�*s had such a massive impact. prior to having the loop, everything was manual. we had to, we would be up all night, some nights, you know, every hour, every two hours to do finger pricks, whereas now she can be the social child she was before, and that�*s, thatjust makes me so happy. what is the the best thing... it is known as a hybrid closed loop system, a sort of artificial pancreas. i don�*t have to do finger pricks or needles any more. and it keeps her blood sugar from going too high or too low. i think it�*s absolutely fantastic. i�*ve been practising for 25 years in children�*s diabetes, and it is a game—changer. to be able to improve the quality of life, to be able to see that most of the blood glucose readings are within the target

range is very exciting. so the sensor's on my arm and they loop back to each other. yasmin, from south london, is astounded how much her blood sugar levels have stabilised using the new technology. so it is liberating? definitely. there is nothing i can't do, there is no situation now that makes me anxious or scared. i really feel like, before, i really could have been at risk of some of those long—terms, especially the kind of heart stuff and things like that, whereas now, i don't really see that happening. good boy, wallace. if blood sugar levels are not kept under control, diabetes patients risk long—term damage to their heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. that is why this trial matters. if successful, it could mean patients like yasmin have longer and healthier lives. fergus walsh, bbc news.

a record number of people had coronavirus in the week ending 26th march. the latest figures from the office for national statistics suggest that one in 13 people would test positive, that�*s nearly five million people in total. that�*s higher than the record level in january. our health correspondent jim reed is here. just keeps going up. it does at the moment. another _ just keeps going up. it does at the moment. another significant - just keeps going up. it does at the moment. another significant rise i just keeps going up. it does at the | moment. another significant rise in infection, the two main reason, one is there has been a lifting of restrictions across the uk, over the last month, six weeks or so and also perhaps more importantly, this off—shoot of the omicron variant of the virus, which is proving to be even more transmissable than the version of the virus over christmas, you can see that from this chart we can show you, it suggests round one in every 13 people would have had the virus last week, that is a record for this survey in this pandemic. it meansjust

record for this survey in this pandemic. it means just shy of five million people across the uk would have been infected last week alone. at the same time worth pointing out. when you look at hospitalisations for covid, they have been rising but nowhere near as quickly, just under 20,000 people in the uk currently being treated in hospital, round half of those being treated primarily for covid, the other half being admitted for another reason, but then testing positive when they are if hospital. until recently professor baker was the man in charge of regulating hospitals in england and he says all that can still have a real impact on the health service. still have a real impact on the health service. if you're sick with a heart condition or diabetes or other long—term condition and you get covid on top of that, it may not be your primary problem, but it does add to the problems and to the complications of treatment. and remember, covid in hospitals affects the hospital's capacity, because the hospital needs to segregate people with active covid from other people, to make sure that the infection does not spread in the hospital.

so this news today comes at on is same day that free covid testing has endedin same day that free covid testing has ended in england for most people. so the guidance now is if you are feeling sick you should try to stay at home for at least five days, home tests are still available, they will cost round £2 from a local pharmacy each. thank you. most railway services in scotland are back in public ownership for the first time in 25 years, after abellio had its franchise ended early. the train operator is now being run by a company owned by the scottish government. the first minister nicola sturgeon has called it an historic moment — though critics claim the change will result in more expensive fares and cuts to services. passengers are being warned of longer than usual queues at airports over easter due to staff shortages. the airport operators association said its members had been trying to hire for new roles following job losses and staff departing

to other industries during the coronavirus pandemic. but it warned recruitment problems and covid—related staff absences could put operations at airports under strain. proposals to ban what�*s often called conversion therapy will go ahead, in england and wales — the decision was announced last nightjust a few hours after the government said it had dropped its promise to outlaw the practice, which tries to change someone�*s sexual orientation. but the legislation will now only cover gay and bisexual people — not transgender people as was originally planned. our political correspondent ione wells is at westminster. a lot of confusion last night, when one minute it seemed to be happening and the next minute not. what is going on here?— going on here? that is right. i think it is _ going on here? that is right. i think it is worth _ going on here? that is right. i think it is worth running - going on here? that is right. i. think it is worth running through the time line of what happened last night. so firstly itv news was leaked a government document that said the government was no longer going ahead with plans to introduce

a legal ban on so—called gay conversion therapy. that bounced number ten into confirming that that was the case, that provoked a fierce backlash from all sides, really, opposition mps but a number of tory mps and the lgbt conservative group as well. fast forward three hour, the government then u—turned on that statement and said the government would be bringing forward a new law to ban gay conversion therapy and that would be in the up coming queen�*s speech. they did say as you mentioned that this would be a ban conversion therapy for gay and by sexual people but not for transgender people. the senior government source said the prime minister wanted to make sure that any young person who was gay wasn�*t made to feel like their feelings were illegitimate but did not want to have a situation in their words, where a parent for example, could tell a young person to wait a few more years before seeking surgery or hormone treatment for example if

they were struggling with gender identity. so there has been a fair amount of backlash with some lgbt campaigners for example criticising the government for not including transgender people in this new ban, so i think what the ban is going to look like in practise, is still going to be the subject of much political wrangling to come in next few weeks. ., ., political wrangling to come in next few weeks. ., ,, , ., it�*s a big day in football, as the draw is made in qatar for the world cup finals. gareth southgate�*s england are among the top seeds, but could be placed in a group containing germany or netherlands. wales and scotland are also included in the draw. our sports editor, dan roan, is in qatar. (vt tournament organisers will no doubt hope that today�*s draw helps shift the focus away from all the controversy that surrounded this event ever since qatar was so unexpectedly awarded the right to stage it, back in 2010, and instead, moves towards the actual competition and football, because teams

who are qualified will now discover their potential route through to the final, which is due to take place in december, of course. it does still feel for many quite surreal that in just a few months time, more than one million fans will be here in what is effectively a city state, the first world cup to be staged in the middle east, in the middle of next season, and, of course, with all eight stadia within just a few miles of each other. the teams today will discover which of those grounds they will be playing in and against whom. for the first time ever, the draw is not complete, however. there are still three slots to be decided, wales must wait until later this year to discover who out of either scotland or ukraine they will face, with a place in the world cup at stake. the usual favourites, the likes of brazil and spain and france, they are in the first group of seeds, along with england. so they will avoid any of them, but they could be drawn to play other giants, like for example germany or the netherlands. they will be desperate to avoid them. all will be decided later on today.

what won�*t, ithink, however, lift, is the scrutiny on the organisers, because of all of the controversy that still surrounds the treatment of the migrant workers that have been depended on to build the infrastructure and the stadium and the discrimination that exists here in this country, with homosexuality illegal, leading of course to some fears over the safety and the welcome that some fans may experience. an 800—year—old landmark in york, described by experts as one of the country�*s most important buildings, reopens to the public this weekend after a multi—million pound refurbishment. clifford�*s tower was once the seat of royal power for northern england, as john maguire reports. first built by william the conqueror, there�*s been a castle on this site in york for almost 1,000 years. during that time, its story has been touched by tragedy,

comedy and royalty. this was for long periods of history a place where the north was governed from, certainly where yorkshire was governed from, and sometimes where england was governed from. it has a very, very long, very eventful, sometimes tragic history. the stone tower, built for henry iii in the 13th century, is the largest remaining part of york castle. hundreds of years in all weathers, sun and snow, just like today, have taken their toll. so, to conserve the walls, every single stone has been tested as part of the major conservation works here. you can see the pink stone there and the pink is actually fire damage from the catastrophic fire that occurred in 1684. these walkways, part of the £5 million project, will offer visitors views not seen since the floors were destroyed by that major fire when a ceremonial cannon salute for st george�*s day went horribly wrong. and they also allow access to some fascinating stories.

welcome to the smallest room in the tower. this is the guardrobe, to give it its proper name. the toilet, a latrine, built for henry iii. the most extraordinary thing about it, it�*s a flushing toilet. flushed with rain water down this channel, fed by a tank on the roof, apparently predating other flushing toilets by around three centuries. along with the stories contained inside the tower, you can now walk above it. literally one of the best bits. come off the suspended walkway, up original stone stairs, many of which have been restored. these new ones at the top. to bring you onto this incredible roof deck, with a panoramic view of york. and look at that, york minster, in the distance. really spectacular and stunning.

daffodils planted on the mound commemorate one of the tower�*s most