ADVICE workers are urging pensioners to sign up to a scheme to keep them safer and warmer in their homes.

Wear Valley Citizens' Advice Bureau is backing a campaign by independent gas and electricity group Energywatch to make sure more people know about the services available to people with special needs.

Free help is available to people who are disabled or chronically sick, pensioners and those with sight or hearing problems through a Priority Services Register.

This includes free gas safety checks, emergency heating in power cuts and protection against bogus callers.

CAB manager Peter Singer said: "We see a lot of pensioners and people with disabilities who have no idea they are entitled to these special services provided by all gas and electricity suppliers.

"We hope the Energywatch campaign will mean more vulnerable people get a service better tailored to their needs.

He added that he wanted gas and electricity companies to do more to tell customers about the register.

"Our evidence suggests that at the moment they often fail to make sure people know about it."

For information telephone 08459 060708 or textphone 18001 0849 060708, or log on to www.energywatch.or.uk