BOLTON Citizen’s Advice Bureau has launched a campaign to improve services for pre-paying energy customers.

The current service, where customers wanting to pay their energy bills in advance have to do so at a shop, is “stuck in the dark ages”, according to Richard Wilkinson, manager of Bolton CAB.

The group is joining a national Citizen’s Advice campaign which is asking energy companies to offer a greater choice of tariffs and more innovative ways to top up.

Mr Wilkinson said: “It’s bizarre that people can top up mobile phones by text and buy shopping online, but when it comes to pre-payment energy, customers have to traipse to the local store.

“Now it is coming winter they have to walk in the cold, dark and often wet weather.

“If you are housebound or have children at home, getting out to top up your gas and electricity can be really difficult.”

For more information, visit citizensadvice.org.uk/index/campaigns/current_campaigns/ fairprepay