Call for more winter fuel money

Many pensioners struggle to stay warm in winter

More government money should be given to elderly people to heat their homes, a charity says.

Currently £200 a year is given to people aged over 60 for winter fuel but Help the Aged want more.

It said that 21,800 people died as a result of cold last winter - and more than 330,000 in England and Wales over the past 10 years.

Help the Aged added that such deaths were higher in England and Wales than in comparable European countries.

Charity spokesman Mervyn Kohler described the level of deaths as a "national scandal".

The government is letting people die of cold Mervyn Kohler Help the Aged

"Why has there been no outcry about these latest figures like that witnessed in France when some 15,000 older people died in this summer's heat wave?

"Older people must have access to affordable heating.

"By failing to properly address fuel poverty and by failing to co-ordinate help across departments, the government is letting people die of cold," he added

In some of England's poorest neighbourhoods 22% of older people were sometimes forced to chose between heating their home and eating, the charity said.

Poor repair

From this year households where someone is aged over 80 will get an additional £100 a year, on top of the £200.

While welcoming the money, Help the Aged said some elderly people's homes were in such poor repair that new central heating systems were needed.

It wants the government to ensure the homes of older people in England have adequate heating and insulation.

It also wants to see increased investment in the Warm Front scheme under which pensioners can get grants to improve the heating or insulation in their home.

The group said a survey had found that 64% of MPs thought the Government's strategy to tackle winter deaths was failing to reach those most in need and should be reformed.