Elderly in Dorset warned over ‘big freeze’ (From Thisisdorset)

Elderly in Dorset warned over ‘big freeze’

9:40am Tuesday 6th January 2009 in

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CHARITY workers warned the elderly to wrap up as a Siberian blast was set to hit south Dorset.

They called for people to ignore fears about the credit crunch and turn on the heating.

Age Concern in Weymouth has thrown open its doors for pensioners and is offering advice for them to beat the freeze – which is set to plunge to minus four today.

Area co-ordinator Nigel Coles says the charity also offers practical help and advice to anyone feeling the pinch when paying their heating bills.

Mr Coles, based at Pilgrims House in Hope Street, Weymouth, said: “The main advice is to keep warm and keep well this year.

“We offer information on applying for winter warmth grants, pamphlets from British Gas and other energy providers on how to save money and who are the cheapest providers and thermometers to measure temperature inside homes.

“Our Weymouth office is open Monday to Friday until 2pm for anyone wanting advice on how to stay warm and healthy this winter.”

He added: “The over-riding concern we see people have at the moment, what with the credit crunch, is about paying for heating.

“This can sometimes lead people to make decisions, like turning off their heating, that are perhaps not best for their health and safety.

“We can always offer help to people facing such dilemmas.”

Pensioner and three-times Dorchester Mayor Les Phillips, 76, said he was sat in his West Mills Road home wearing two jumpers and a body warmer because of the cold.

He said: “I would appeal to all elderly people to wrap up warm and if their journey is not necessary, wait until the air warms up a bit.”

Age Concern Dorchester’s chief officer Wendy Hilton echoed Mr Coles’s advice on paying for heating.

She added: “Most of the people seeking advice on heating and staying warm are widows who live in their own homes.

“We’re here to give advice to anyone who’s having trouble making ends meet, especially if their money is tied up in bricks and mortar.”

County and town councillor Les Ames, of Southwell, said: “On Portland here the direct east wind is very, very dangerous unless it’s taken seriously.

“I’m over 80 myself and I think elderly people must have enough clothes to bear the brunt of the wind.

“I’d also advise people to wear a hat in this weather and make sure their shoes are a stout pair because the pavements are extremely cold.”

Weymouth and Portland meteorologist Bob Poots said the recent drop in temperatures has been caused by cold winds sweeping through the South West from the East.

He said: “It’s been colder recently because of an area of high pressure sitting above the county which didn’t move for several days.

“This led to clear skies and a greater drop in temperatures.

“This has been coupled with cold winds coming from Iceland and Russia in the East and increasing the wind chill factor.”

He predicted that the weather would stay ‘bright but cold’ for the rest of the week, adding that there is little chance of snow.