PEOPLE living in coal-heated homes in Teesdale are being offered the chance to have an eco-friendly ground source heat pump installed for free.

E.ON, is to become the first energy supplier in the UK to offer free installation of HeatPlants - environmentally-friendly heat pumps.

Teesdale has been chosen as one of five areas in the North East where it is estimated that 56 per cent of homes in area are off mains gas supply.

Because of this, many rural households have limited energy resources readily available to them and may not be able to afford to make the alterations required to make their home more energy efficient.

The heat pump and central heating systems are worth up to 11,500 and will be installed free of charge to households claiming benefits within communities that rely coal to heat their homes.

Mike Newell, Low Carbon Manager at E.ON said: "We're delighted to be launching this initiative across the country. Not only will it enable us to offer another valuable option to customers who currently have little other energy choices, other than coal, we hope it will bring local communities together while benefiting the surrounding environment."

Eligible applicants can apply at eonenergy.com/heatplant or call 0800-404-5018.

The offer is open to groups of six or more households in the same street who do not have access to mains gas and where at least one resident in each property is receiving a means-tested benefit.