A MAJOR British energy supplier has been forced to apologise for publishing “offensive” advice to struggling customers.

Ovo Energy last week emailed customers a list of 10 “simple and cost-effective ways to keep warm this winter”, the Financial Times reported.

This included “have a cuddle with your pets” to stay warm and save on heating bills, “challenging the kids to a hula hoop competition”, “doing star jumps”, and “cleaning the house”.

Ovo also advised customers to "keep your oven open after you've finished cooking", adding: "just be careful if there are pets or small children around".

It came as the UK’s cost-of-living crisis is expected to worsen.

READ MORE: SNP issue demands to ease cost of living crisis as PM 'sleepwalking into catastrophe'

According to some predictions, energy bills could rise by more than 50% in April for millions of households that are on a standard tariff.

Bristol North West MP and chairman of the Business Select Committee Darren Jones branded Ovo Energy’s tips “offensive” and called on the company to apologise.

In a subsequent tweet, he wrote: “I’m not sure who signed off a marketing campaign telling people to wear a jumper and eat porridge instead of turning on the heating if you can’t afford it.”

Ovo has since apologised for the tips, telling the Financial Times: “We understand how difficult the situation will be for many of our customers this year.

“We are working hard to find meaningful solutions as we approach this energy crisis, and we recognise that the content of this blog was poorly judged and unhelpful. We are embarrassed and sincerely apologise.”

In April, the price cap, which limits the amounts energy suppliers can charge, will rise.

It is already at a record £1277, but analysts at Investec think it could go up to £1995.

The increases are due to a major spike in global gas prices, which have been pushed up by high demand around the world.

Trade body Energy UK’s chief executive, Emma Pinchbeck, said last month that the Government could cut each household bill by £90 by slashing taxes or VAT.

Meanwhile, bills could be cut by a further £190 by bringing forward proposals on removing policy costs.