MORE than 750 people are expected to die over the next three years because they can't afford to heat their homes, grim predictions published this week have revealed.

Friends Of The Earth claim the Preston, South Ribble and the Ribble Valley constituencies will lose 750 people from their population before 2002, due to 'Excess Winter Deaths' - ones which are brought on by the cold weather.

The environmental group is now pressing for more funding to help sort out the country's huge stock of poorly heated, energy inefficient homes in a bid to help curtail the number of extra winter deaths.

It says the winter cold brings on illnesses such as respiratory diseases, heart and cerebra-vascular complaints, costing the NHS £1 billion a year and, more importantly, costing many people their lives.

It predicts 252 people will die in South Ribble before the next election in 2002, while 256 people will die in Preston.

More than 250 people will die in the Ribble Valley constituency, which covers Fulwood, the shocking statistics claim. It is claimed that these could be prevented, if the government acted to reduce fuel poverty by improving home insulation and making winter fuel payments more accurate.

South Ribble MP David Borrow said: "Progress is being made by the government. Pensioners' winter fuel payments have risen to £100 which will be a massive help."

But the environmental group claims it isn't just pensioners who suffer and the extra funds are often wasted in houses which aren't properly insulated.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans agrees. He said: "In this day and age for just a single person to die through lack of heating is an absolute scandal.

"We need to ensure the £100 given out does help people and isn't just spent to sort out other shortfalls, like lack of food.

"There are still pensioners living in this area who spend the winter in one room in front of a one bar fire. That is a disgrace."

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