Energy saving plans put in place by the Scottish government need to be given a rethink, according to the country's arm of charity WWF.

The organisation wants policymakers to drop their current "means tested" approach to installing energy saving measures in homes, instead recommending street-by-street refurbishments to improve efficiency and cut fuel bills.

Fuel poverty, which currently affects 600,000 families in the country, could be slashed by up to 26 per cent under the new proposals and would also cut harmful carbon emissions by almost one-fifth, the charity claimed.

Elizabeth Leighton, the senior policy officer at WWF Scotland, explained the government's existing programme of energy saving measures had many positive aspects.

However, she noted: "An area-based scheme, available to everyone, delivers a triple benefit by reducing fuel poverty rates, carbon emissions and energy costs."

The WWF's proposals come after research from the Energy Saving Trust found that poor insulation and heating systems cost UK residents £3.5 billion a year.