HOUSING chiefs are urging pensioners to take up an offer to make their homes warm and dry this winter.

They will be targeting 30,000 privately-owned homes in the New Year asking them to make use of a scheme offering reduced-priced energy saving items.

The council has negotiated discounts on a wide range of measures including cavity wall and loft insulation.

The letter will initially be sent to residents in Halliwell, Farnworth, Tonge, Burnden and Westhoughton. They will be told that they could save around £200 a year on fuel bills.

Pensioners and people on benefit could be eligible for grants towards installation costs.

But the move angered Labour Cllr Paul Perry at a housing sub committee meeting.

He said: "This is means tested and is the policy of the last Government. We should be changing it because we are penalising people who have worked hard and have savings."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.