Worried Darlington pensioners have been reduced to tears in fear of cuts to key support payments this winter. 

A council meeting was told elderly and vulnerable people throughout the town have inundated councillors with requests for support after the removal of the winter fuel allowance was announced. 

Up to 18,751 Darlington residents are expected to be affected by the decision, meaning those not in receipt of Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits will lose out.

Councillor Kevin Nicholson urged the council to prioritise the lives of those affected by the cuts. 

He said: “Pensioners in Eastbourne are some of the poorest in this town. I had Sandra at my surgery in tears over what she will do this winter. 

“Residents are telling me they are frightened this winter. There are going to be pensioners in Eastbourne who will feel the cold.”

However, a Conservative plea calling on Darlington Borough Council to oppose the removal of the winter fuel allowance failed to receive the support of the ruling Labour Party. 

Opposition councillors called on the Labour-Lib Dem administration to urge the Chancellor to reverse the controversial decision to protect elderly and vulnerable residents.

But a Labour amendment urging pensioners to sign up for Pension Credit was instead approved. 

Commenting on the controversial decision, Conservative leader Jonathan Dulston said: “It’s absolutely shameful.”

He added: “I am confident that the people of Darlington will remember what happened this winter and hold lazy Lola [McEvoy] to account at the next election.”

In defence of the government decision, Council Leader Stephen Harker said the Tories had left a huge black hole in the national finances. 

He said: “This is a direct result of the Conservatives’ sustained incompetence managing the country’s economy.”

But conflicting councillors were criticised for “political point-scoring” when people’s lives are on the line. 

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Cllr Nicholson said: “All I’m hearing is petty political games that people on the doorstep, who are in tears, are not interested in. It’s a disgrace.”

Green Party councillor Anna-Maria Toms added: “I am absolutely appalled are making political points on something that we could work together on for the benefit of pensioners in the town. 

“I’m absolutely disgusted that this has turned into political point-scoring, yet again, on an important issue.”