I am writing with reference to the story ‘Winter fuel benefit test given the cold shoulder’ (LT January 4).

As Blackburn with Darwen’s older people’s champion, I am urging all pensioners to remember to keep warm and well this winter.

I have my reservations about means-testing winter fuel payments and I think older people who have paid their national insurance all their lives should not have them taken away.

But more importantly, at this present time, I don’t want people to start worrying about turning the heating on because of reports in the newspapers.

When the cold bites, it’s incredibly important to keep rooms heated to ward off certain health problems.

Just wrapping up in a blanket and keeping the heating off is inadequate. Rooms need to be heated to a temperature between 18º - 21ºC (64º-70ºF).

We are all more likely to catch colds in the winter. However, for some people, the cold weather can also lead to more serious health problems such as hypothermia and pneumonia.

Many cold-related health problems are avoidable, so again I must stress to keep warm and well this winter.

I would also urge people in the community to keep their eyes open and check on their older neighbours to make sure they are safe and well.

Be a good neighbour – knock on the door and see if they are okay.

Get the message out there that heated homes saves lives.

Coun Dorothy Walsh, Older people’s champion.