OLDER people in the region are set to benefit from extra cold weather payments.

Pensioners who have taken advantage of charity Age Concern's offer to supply gas will receive free heating this winter.

Age Concern Energy, an alliance between the charity and Powergen, has agreed to give the equivalent of two hours' free heating, using a gas fire, for every day the temperature drops below freezing.

Age Concern Teesside's chief officer Dave Punshon said: "We have to tackle the fact that many older people in Teesside will be worried about the cost of turning up the heating on the coldest days of the year."

"This is why we developed the cold weather payment as a key element of our partnership with Powergen."

"We are delighted to see people saving money on their bills as a result."