MONMOUTHSHIRE’S older residents can claim a free thermometer card to help them make sure their homes are warm enough during cold weather.

Age Cymru has teamed up with Western Power Distribution to produce the thermometer cards which tell older people when their home is ideally heated, if their homes are too cold or if their homes are too warm.

Age Cymru’s Spread the Warmth campaign coordinator Angharad Phillips says cold weather can make older people more vulnerable to some illnesses.

“If you’re exposed to a cold environment for a long time, or to extreme cold for only a short time, your blood pressure rises which means you could be at risk of a heart attack or stroke,” she said.

“These thermometer cards we have produced with the support of WPD will help older people to make sure their homes are heated to a safe temperature during cold winter weather.”

For more information about Age Cymru’s ‘Spread the Warmth’ campaign, visit www.agecymru.org.uk/stw