AN EVENT aimed at supporting those who struggle to afford to hear their homes in winter has been praised by a prospective parliamentary candidate.

Age UK’s Cold Homes Week event took place in Northallerton last week and was the charity’s largest public campaign to end fuel poverty – the Energy Bill Revolution.

Age UK joined forces with Age Concern to exhibit knitted homes and to urge people to write to their MP in support of the campaign.

Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Green party in Richmond, Leslie Rowe, said he supported the campaign whole-heartedly.

He said: "There are 4,313 homes in the Richmond constituency in fuel poverty according to the Energy Bill Revolution."

The aims of the Energy Bill Revolution Alliance campaign are for home-energy efficiency to be made a UK national infrastructure priority; for 2 million UK low-income homes to be given grants to make them highly energy-efficient by 2020, with all 6 million homes brought up to this standard by 2025; carbon-tax revenue used to provide long-term funding for the programme; and zero per cent loans for energy-efficiency measures for those able to pay.

Mr Rowe added: "As well as keeping vulnerable people warm in their homes, energy conservation will reduce the need for new power stations and reduce climate change.

"The Green Party fully supports the Energy Bill Revolution and if elected will ensure that it is fully funded."

For information visit www.energybillrevolution.org.