Struggling households across the North West have been urged to access a slice of the £66 million winter support fund.

The Government’s Household Support Fund will help struggling families with the cost of essentials this winter by providing funding to 700,000 households living in poverty in the North West.

Spread across the region's 21 local authorities, the funding will help cover the cost of energy, water and food bills as part of the £421 million extension to the Household Support Fund across England by the new Labour administration.

Additionally, it will support community groups and projects to help struggling households.

Around 600,000 children and 200,000 pensioners are living in relative poverty after additional housing costs in the region, and nearly 2.8 million people are out of work nationally due to sickness.

The extension of the fund aims to prevent councils and struggling households from experiencing an immediate cliff edge of support as winter approaches.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall MP, said: “Despite all the problems we have inherited, this Government has invested an extra half a billion pounds in the Household Support Fund, so we can families and the poorest pensioners who need it most this winter.

 “This £66 million boost will support families who need it in the North West with the costs of feeding children, heating homes, or helping people get to work.

 “This comes alongside our work to fix the foundations of our country, grow the economy and deliver opportunities for people to get work and get on in work, so everyone feels better off."

Households in the North West in need of financial support can apply for help from the fund through their local authority, with each council being responsible for distributing funds based on the needs of its residents.

Funding can also be allocated to charities and third-sector partners to provide a range of services and products like baby boxes, heating appliances and school uniforms.