ACT on Energy, a Worcestershire charity, is hosting a series of Affordable Warmth advice sessions in Evesham and Pershore this month to help vulnerable older people stay warm this winter.

As part of the Spread the Warmth campaign, launched this month by Age UK - the new name for the recently merged Help the Aged and Age Concern - the sessions will inform householders about grants aimed at helping those on low incomes to pay for gas and electricity, together with free and subsidised cavity wall and loft insulation schemes.

Last winter saw 37,000 people across England and Wales die unnecessarily of cold related illnesses, this was 50 per cent higher than the average figure of 24,000 because the weather was so severe. The UK also has about twice as many ‘excess winter deaths’ than Germany or the Netherlands.

Rachel Jones, Act on Energy partnership manager, said: “Every year many pensioners and people on low incomes fail to heat their homes properly because they simply cannot afford to pay their fuel bills at the end of winter.

“Anyone who spends more than 10 per cent of their disposable household income on heating is defined as ‘fuel poor’ and it is these people we are keen to reach.

“People on certain benefits, Disability Living Allowance and the over 70s may be entitled to free loft and cavity wall insulation. And those who don’t fit the criteria are entitled to heavily subsidised schemes which could see their cavity walls insulated for less than £100.”

The Warmth Advice sessions will take place at Evesham Community Contact Centre, in Abbey Road, on Tuesday, November 23 from 9.30am until 12.30pm, and at Pershore’s Civic Centre, in Queen Elizabeth Drive, on Tuesday, November 23 from 1.30pm until 4.30pm.