Residents are being reminded to apply for government grants offering support with energy and fuel bills.

Residents can apply for the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding, a one-off grant of £400 aimed at residents without a direct relationship with a domestic energy supplier.

This would include care home residents or tenants in private and social rented homes who pay their energy through a landlord.

Once residents have applied to receive the funding, and their applications are processed and verified, details will be shared with their respective council.

The local authority will make the payment directly into people's bank account.

While not all councils will do the payments, it's worth checking on your councils' website about grants and payments.

The government is also providing a further £200 alternative fuel payment (AFP) to help those using alternative fuels, such as heating oil – to meet energy costs.

Most of the households eligible for the AFP support will receive it automatically via their electricity supplier with no need to take any action.

Eligible households for both schemes can apply until May 31 at gov.uk/apply-energy-bill-support-if-not-automatic or they can call 0808 1753287.