The company who handle the majority of pre-payment transactions for utilities, PayPoint, has warned that as many as 30,000 households in Scotland are likely to run short of gas and electricity on Christmas Day. Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris, who has long campaigned to bring the cost of pre-payment utilities into line with other payment methods, has warned that many constituents in Glasgow could find themselves in difficulty this weekend.

Speaking in Glasgow today, Mr Doris said: "I am assured by PayPoint that the majority of their convenience locations will be open throughout the festive season, including petrol stations and local convenience shops.  The company say that last year they took 1.6 million payments for gas and electricity across the UK on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, with 330,000 of those on Christmas Day.

"But people need to be mindful that not so many businesses will be operating and it can be difficult getting about on Christmas Day. Running out of gas when cooking the turkey could certainly dampen a family Christmas, but more importantly there could be older and vulnerable people left without heat in these sub-zero conditions.

"We all need to look out for our neighbours at this time of year but pre-payment utilities can easily be forgotten so we need to be extra vigilant."