A new pension benefits uptake campaign has begun to rollout across Lancashire – starting in the Ribble Valley.

Lancashire County Council is helping thousands of pensioners who could be missing out on welfare benefits worth millions of pounds a year.

As part of the annual Pensioner Benefits Uptake campaign, the county council's Welfare Rights service is working with district councils to contact pensioners on a low income and offer a free benefits check.

So far, the council has recently sent out more than 600 letters to households in the Ribble Valley, inviting them to contact Welfare Rights for advice.

More than 160 households responded, and advisers are continuing to work on those cases.

However, many pensioners in Ribble Valley may still be worrying about paying their bills and seeing their savings reduce as their income is not enough to cover these expenses.

Two advisers who are working with pensioners to maximise their income will be attending Clitheroe Library on Tuesday, 21 March, 10am to 12pm, and they are urging anyone who hasn't had a benefit check to pop in and see them.

The Pensioner Benefits Uptake Campaign is being gradually rolled out across all 12 Lancashire districts, starting with the Ribble Valley.

County Councillor Peter Buckley, cabinet member for Community and Cultural Services at Lancashire County Council, said: "It's more important than ever that people claim their full entitlement to state benefits.

"Our Welfare Rights service has a proven track record of helping people in Lancashire claim the money entitled to them and our staff can provide confidential and independent advice.

"Pension Credit entitlement can also open the door to other benefits and allowances, such as cold weather payments and household support payments.

"The whole process only takes a few minutes but could make a real difference, so I'd strongly encourage pensioners to take up this offer of a free benefit check."