Free or discounted household improvements are to be offered to help St Albans residents stay warm in a new council scheme.

Hertfordshire County Council has launched a new scheme to help St Albans residents stay warm this winter, as more than 32,000 households are estimated to live in fuel poverty across the county.

The Hertfordshire Warmer Homes scheme aims to make homes easier and cheaper to heat by offering energy efficiency measures such as insulation, heating repair or advice for free or at a discounted rate.

The council's cabinet member for public health, Cllr Richard Roberts, said: "Living in a cold home can seriously affect our health. But for many people, concerns about the cost of heating a home can cause a lot of stress.

"It’s good to know that this scheme is available to make it easier and cheaper to keep homes warm when temperatures drop, helping you to live warm at home as well as reduce the cost of your energy bills."

The World Health Organisation recommends homes should be heated to 21C during the day and 18C at night, and is especially important for young families, the over-75s and those with long-term health conditions.

The scheme will be delivered by the National Energy Foundation with funding from the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and local authority contributions, and will run to October 31, 2018.

For more information contact HertsHelp on 0300 123 4044 or visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/hertswarmerhomes