WINTER deaths throughout Preston are set to soar as the country's fuel poverty scandal continues to worsen.

Last year 107 elderly and vulnerable people in Preston died, and campaigners say this year is going to be even worse.

That's the stark message from the Campaign for the Warm Homes Bill, which has published detailed estimates of winter deaths for every constituency in the UK - based on new government figures for each region.

It is mostly the elderly who struggle to pay their fuel bills.

But the £100 winter fuel payment introduced is only limited, say campaigners, as people in energy inefficient homes are simply paying to "heat the skies above their house." This makes them vulnerable to hypothermia and various illnesses.

Reacting to the survey's findings, Jean Wagstaff, of Age Concern Preston and South Ribble, said: "Locally we have been running our own winter warmth campaign which highlights the dangers of hypothermia to all of the region's elderly people.

"We are also in the process of helping people get to grips with the government's winter fuel payments, and making sure everyone gets what they deserve."

Martyn Williams, parliamentary co-ordinator for Friends of the Earth and organiser of the Campaign for the Warm Homes Bill, said: "Cold homes kill. A national programme to make homes more fuel efficient would save lives, ease the crisis in the NHS and help the environment.

"Every MP can now see the number for their constituency. It's time for the government to fall off the fence and back our campaign."

Tory MP David Amess is to introduce a Warm Homes Bill with a second reading in March.

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