NORWEB customers on benefit have until the middle of May to buy a brand new fridge - for just £25.

There are still 1,000 available under the Fridgesavers scheme - launched by Norweb in the North West last November - which helps people replace their old energy-guzzling fridges with modern ones which normally retail at £120.

The new fridges are energy efficient and it's estimated that householders could save more than £30 a year on their electricity bills - recovering the cost in less than a year - and £450 over the projected 15-year life of a fridge.

The Fridgesavers scheme was developed by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and is funded by the 14 electricity supply companies nationwide. It is part of a national initiative to take the most inefficient fridges out of circulation, saving large amounts of energy and helping the Government meet its target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

As part of its own energy-saving programme, Norweb recently announced plans to spend more than £4 million on efficiency projects for householders throughout the North West over the next two years.

"Final details are still being worked out, but we hope to include a new Fridgesavers scheme in the programme," said Glyn Trumper, energy efficient manager, Norweb. "But with no date yet set for the fridge programme, we're anxious to make sure that needy customers don't miss out on the current offer."

Anyone on benefit with a standard-sized fridge with an icebox can apply. Application forms are available by calling Norweb's freephone on 0800 834550.

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