A cheap £3 draught-proofing trick could cut your energy bills by more than £200.

Norton Finance, a mortgage and credit broker, estimates the hack could save £215 in heating bills over five years.

It revealed the tip in the middle of the energy crisis that is causing gas and electrical bills to rise, and could do again in April.

Read more: Another energy bill rise is expected next year

The tip involves using excluder strips which cost under £3 and using them to cover up draught gaps in windows, doors and chimneys.

Norton says: "Draught-proofing is a simple way to save energy and money – it’s also cheap and really effective, too.

"Draught-proofing your home blocks gaps around the doors, windows and chimneys in your home, stopping warm air from escaping and cold air from getting in. You can also buy long, sausage-shaped draught excluders to lie along the bottom of your doors."

Sticky excluders can be bought for cheap and just used to seal up any gaps that air gets through.

As Mirror Online reports, Amazon sells 10 metres of self-adhesive seal for just £2.89. If you're after a draught excluder for your door, Screwfix has them for £1.79 each.

The insulation tip could prove handy as Britons struggle to pay to heat their homes this year amid rising gap prices.

The energy price cap - which sets the maximum price customers pay for utility companies' standard tariffs - has shot up by £139 a year.

Norton's other tips to save cash include wall insulation, solar panels and double glazing - all of which can cut bills but involve a significant financial investment.

Go here for more what's on updates, news and reviews from around the North East