DON'T shiver in silence this winter is the advice for older people.

If you are aged 60 or over you could be entitled to £200 to help pay extra heating bills during cold winter months under the government's Winter Fuel Payment scheme.

The scheme is available to all British citizens (living in Great Britain or Northern Ireland) who have reached pensionable age during or before a qualifying period of September 15 to 21, 2003.

Extra payments of up to £100 are also available to all those over 80 under a new ruling by the Chancellor of the Exchequor in April's budget.

You could be looking forward to a warmer and healthier New Year as long as you:

Have not been receiving hospital in-patient treatment for more than 52 weeks

Are already entitled to payments through your partner

Have been in police custody under sentence

Are seeking asylum and are not eligible for a state pension.

Are, or have been, living in a residential care home during the qualifying period and the previous 12 weeks.

The Citizen is now urging all elderly Fylde residents to apply for their Winter Fuel Payment as part of the annual Winter Awareness Campaign, which is running from November 28 to December 5.

The campaign, by energy efficiency charity NEA, aims to highlight the plight of the nation's poverty-stricken elderly and promote the various government grants and support available to those in need of extra heat assistance.

Britain is known to be among the worst EU countries affected by fuel poverty and sees a 20 per cent rise in deaths during winter months each year.

To receive your Winter Fuel Payment simply complete a claim form (by March 2004 for this year's claim) from the Department of Works and Pensions Winter Fuel Hotline on 0845 915 1515.