'Keep an eye onvulnerableelderly' plea

Neighbours and families have been urged to check on the elderly amid fears over deaths in the long cold snap.

The Government has already spent nearly 25m in cold weather payments helping pensioners and vulnerable people in the region cover heating bills.

Nearly 450,000 people have received the 25 payments, which are triggered by seven successive days of sub-zero temperatures, with pensioners in some parts of the region benefiting from three payouts since November.

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The Government has paid out 172m to nearly 3.5 million people nationally.

Age Concern and Help the Aged head of policy Andrew Harrop said: “Last winter’s cold snap sent excess winter mortality to a 10-year high, with around three quarters of excess winter deaths recorded among people aged 75 or over.”

More than 205,000 people living near Bingley, Fylingdales and Linton on Ouse weather stations have received 75 – in three separate payments – while 183,600 have benefited from two payments in South Yorkshire and a further 54,400 in East Yorkshire have been paid once.