HOUSING workers have started carrying electric heaters with them at all times in a bid to make sure residents keep warm this winter.

Hyndburn Homes acted after reports that a couple aged 92 and 93-years-old were left without central heating or hot water at their home in Oswaldtwistle for a whole weekend.

The company, which was formed in 2005, said that the incident showed that their emergency out-of-hours service was not working as well as it should and changes needed to be made.

Now every worker for the company will be carrying at least three electric heaters in their van at all times over the winter.

The couple, who live in a sheltered accommodation building in the town, were left without heating after a fault developed in their combi-boiler which needed a new part for it to be repaired.

Temperatures have already dipped below freezing in East Lancashire and are expected to stay very cold well into the new year.

Nigel Fenton of Hyndburn Homes, which took over the area's former council houses, said he had apologised to the couple involved and said that he hoped that the move to carry electric heaters would provide reassurance to residents.

He said: "In that incident our out-of-hours repairs service received a report that the boiler was not working and an engineer was sent to the property to attend to the problem.

"Unfortunately, the boiler needed a new part. We did not stock the necessary part and since this happened over the weekend, we were unable to contact the supplier and were forced to wait until Monday when it was repaired.

"In the meantime, we did provide temporary heating for these residents.

"As part of our ongoing commitment to improving our services, we are now talking to the supplier of these boilers with a view to becoming agents for them. This means that should this problem recur in the future, we will be able to replace all parts very quickly.

"We have apologised to these residents for the problems they have experienced."

The incident was reported to Hyndburn Homes by council leader Coun Peter Britcliffe.

He said: "I am delighted that after I raised this matter at the board of Hyndburn Homes, a full investigation was carried out by Nigel Fenton.

"A number of measures have been introduced as a result of the investigation, including Hyndburn Homes operatives now carrying three electric fires with them and having access to others if necessary.

"It is so important that these actions have been taken at this time of year when it is so cold outside."

A spokesman for Age Concern said: "This is a positive development and is good news for all people who live in Hyndburn Homes properties."