THERE are few things more pleasant than wrapping up warm for a nice brisk walk on a cold winter’s day or returning from a hard day’s work to a snug home filled with the thawing heat from a roaring fire.

Or how about warming the cockles with a cooked dinner as the freeze takes hold outside?

It sounds good doesn’t it? But the Christmas card scenes can mask a time of the year which, for many, can prove to be both debilitating and costly.

Blink and you’d have missed this summer and before we know it, the bitter temperatures will once again take a grip, with the more extreme conditions affecting all aspects of our lives.

To help mitigate the impact of winter, the Warmer Worcestershire Network – a partnership involving Worcestershire County Council, public health, district councils, Age UK, Act On Energy and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service – is teaming up with your Worcester News.

All next week, we will be providing handy tips and advice to help ensure you and your loved ones are well prepared for the imminent chill.

Winter can be tough and can present all sorts of challenges to vulnerable people in communities throughout the county.

It can affect general health and wellbeing and, with spiralling energy costs, can leave people shivering in their own homes, unable to keep the arctic blast at bay.

The network is more than just a talking shop as it offers practical help to those struggling with the elements.

Retired couple Ron and Maureen Sandalls, of Evesham, contacted the network to seek help insulating their home.

They received financial support to help them improve their home’s energy efficiency and hope this simple but effective step will keep them snug when winter bites.

Mr Sandalls said: “We couldn’t believe that we were being given something for nothing as we own our own home.

“We already feel the difference, now we switch our fire off two hours before we go to bed as the house stays warm.”

Mrs Sandalls said: “The contractors were really good, friendly, clean and tidy and they did a great job”.

They were initially visited by representatives from Opportunity Vale of Evesham who talked about the benefits of loft insulation.

Having discussed this with their neighbours, who had already their loft insulated, they decided to get theirs done too. They said they had really noticed the difference.

In previous years when the temperatures have dropped, the couple had been forced to put the fire on all day to keep the house warm.

Now they plan to only put the fire on for a short period before turning it off and enjoying a nice warm, insulated house which will also save them money.

They are not sure yet exactly how much this could save them, but research suggests over the lifetime of loft insulation – about 25 years – on average people can save about £4,700.

Rounding off the week is the annual Switch it Off Day on Friday, which is organised by the network to highlight the benefits of pulling the plug on lights and other appliances when not in use.

For more information on preparing for the winter, visit the website at warmerworcestershire. com or call the free helpline – 0800 988 2881 – which has been set up to give people friendly and impartial advice.