A ROADSHOW is touring County Durham this week to encourage people to take up Government grants for the installation of home heating and insulation.

The red Warm Front bus, run by energy efficiency experts the Eaga Partnership, is designed as a friendly walk-in advice centre.

Many elderly people, those suffering a long-term illness, pregnant women and families with children under 16 are unaware they may be entitled to free improvements to their household heating.

The grants are worth up to £2,500 per household, and may result in improvements that have the potential to reduce heating bills by between £300 and £600 per year.

The bus is being used to promote the Government's Warm Front grants and aims to raise awareness of the money available to qualifying households as part of measures to tackle the root causes of the fuel poverty problem.

John Clough, chief executive of the Eaga Partnership, said: "The Warm Front bus is designed to make sure that we reach the most vulnerable people in society and encourage them to claim."

The bus was in Newton Aycliffe yesterday and will be in Crook market place today, between 10am and 3pm.

It visits Stanhope market place tomorrow, Bishop Auckland market place on Thursday, and Sedgefield Library on Friday, between 10am and 3pm each day.

Anyone wanting to find out if they qualify for a grant can visit the Warm Front bus or contact Eaga on 0800 3162810.