SOME old people are missing out on cold-weather payments, while neighbours down the road are getting help.

And now a campaign to change the system - which is based on people's postcodes - has been launched by Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson and local County Councillor Bob Wilkinson.

In the recent freeze, old folk in one Rossendale street collected cold weather payments, while those 150 yards down the road missed out - all because they live in a different postal area.

Mrs Anderson has promised to raise the matter again with Social Security Secretary Peter Lilley after another wave of protests from constituents.

She and Coun Wilkinson want changes to the system which links postcode areas with weather centres where the temperature readings are taken to trigger cold weather payments.

"Currently, people living in the BB4 area of Rawtenstall and Haslingden are linked with Manchester, while those in BB5 Rising Bridge area are linked with a centre in Cheshire," Coun Wilkinson said.

During the last cold snap, people in Rising Bridge got nothing, while those in other parts of Rossendale qualified for their payments. "It is quite obvious that people who live about 500ft higher up will be suffering the cold weather too.

"There should be a far better way than hijacking the Post Office's postcode system."

He added that some elderly residents in

Rising Bridge Road received cheques recently, while only 150 yards down the road, people who fell into the other postal zone had received nothing.

"They don't understand why they should miss out. It is just as cold 150 yards down the road.

"I know there have to be boundaries, but surely it would make more sense to base them on borough boundaries where at least there is usually a gap between houses."

Mrs Anderson said she had tried in the past to get the system changed, but would renew her efforts with a letter to Mr Lilley.

"There is no doubt this system is unjust," she added.

"It would be far better to base the boundaries on district boundaries."

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