PENSIONERS and those on low incomes in Bromsgrove are being urged to snap up extra cash in a bid to keep warm this winter.

Age Concern, based in Windsor Street, fears that up to a third of the town's poorest pensioners and people claiming benefit who are entitled to claim extra cash through the Government's Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Plus (HEES) are not.

The scheme offers grants of up to £1,000 for heating improvements, loft and cavity wall insulation and draught proofing to those who receive income-related benefit and disability benefit.

Grants of up to £2,000 are also available to householders who are over 60 and receive an income-related benefit.

This is to provide both insulation measures and high efficiency central heating systems for the main living areas.

Those entitled to claim include householders on income support, council tax or housing benefit.

AGE Concern England's director general, Gordon Lishman, said: "New HEES Plus will bring welcome relief to many people at risk in cold housing.

"The problem is that many of those who could be entitled to help are not aware of the scheme, and many others are missing out on the money benefits they need to be claiming to apply."

Age Concern Bromsgrove's chief officer, Sheelagh Keen, said: "We can help people to maximise their benefits.

"If they are on a low income and would like to check out which benefits they can receive, we can help and we can also help them to apply."

For more information about the scheme call 0800 952 0600.