OLDER residents are being offered winter warmth advice as new figures reveal 80 deaths because of the cold in the Middlesbrough area.

The news of the unnecessary deaths last winter has made Powergen Staywarm double its efforts to help older people keep warm during the colder months.

The Beat the Winter Blues campaign - the fixed price electricity and gas service for the over-60s - has already reached thousands of older people in the area.

The campaign is hoping to reach even more over-60s with its vital advice by visiting community groups.

Local advisor Angela Bennett said: "It's totally unacceptable that so many people in Middlesbrough cannot afford to heat their homes adequately and face the cold spell in fear of their winter fuel bill.

"These latest figures show that there is a very real increase in mortality in the winter and that over-60s are one of the groups most at risk. We want to ensure that as many people as possible know that there is help available."

Powergen Staywarm is urging caring organisations and groups across the region to contact them on freephone 0800 1 694 694 to organise a presentation and help prevent any more unnecessary deaths.

Teaming up with charity Friends of the Elderly and the NHS, regional advisors will use the presentation to distribute leaflets with information on keeping warm and well in winter, as well as details of helplines.

The service guarantees that, as long as customers remain with Powergen Staywarm, the price they pay will be fixed for 12 months from when they sign up.

Advisors also refer all customers who are eligible to the Warm Front service, which provides grants of up to £2,500 for insulation and heating measures.