ALMOST one in five homes are benefiting from a scheme designed to keep residents warmer while saving money.

Assessors from Redcar Warm Zone will visit 1,651 homes in the Hutton district of the town, the last of the 22 wards to be visited.

Warm Zone is a Government-backed project that fits free home insulation for eligible householders who spend more than a tenth of their disposable income on fuel bills.

Since the programme started in October 2002, the Redcar task force has visited 54,000 homes, of which 12,000 have been surveyed and 11,000 have had cavity wall insulation and loft insulation installed.

The Redcar project aims to help 17,000 people and is run by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council with Transco, British Gas and Coast and Country Housing.

Warm Zone manager Lorraine Dobson said: "With the onset of the cold weather, we may be able to help Redcar residents to keep warm - in particular older people.

"Our staff will never ask for money as all our work is completely free. We never canvas by telephone and our representatives are easily recognisable by their distinctive red jackets or ties."

Anyone who has missed the assessor can call (01642) 776923 for a free appointment.