COLD fronts don't worry TV personality Fred Talbot and to prove it he braved the bracing Blackpool weather to help launch a heating campaign.

The celebrity weatherman visited Blackpool's Tower Ballroom recently for the launch of the The Heat Is On -- a new campaign to help pensioners find the cheapest electricity and gas providers.

A campaign spokeswoman said: "Despite the availability of a number of government heating allowances, the UK still has one of the worst rates of excessive winter deaths in Europe."

A country-wide study by English House Condition Survey showed that nearly 60 per cent of single pensioner households and 20 per cent of pensioner couple households could not afford to keep themselves warm in winter.

Fred said: "This is definitely an issue close to my heart. There is no reason for the elderly to be cold in the winter months and I am personally calling on friends, family and neighbours to keep a close eye on the elderly and to help them explore money-saving options and energy efficient schemes."

Find the website at www.saveonyourbills.co.uk or freephone (0800) 0830808.