A CAMPAIGN to keep Hampshire residents warm during the winter months has earned a top award.

Hampshire County Council’s “Hitting the Cold Spots” campaign has won a Community Action Award from energy efficiency charity, National Energy Action.

The campaign offers advice and support to people across Hampshire who are having trouble staying warm during the winter, with the support including home visits and grants for improvements to heating systems, emergency heaters and funding for repairs.

As part of the award, the county council has been awarded a £1,500 grant which will be used to fund an event in September to enable community-based professionals who work with older people to address fuel poverty.

Councillor Liz Fairhurst, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for adult social care, said: “It is wonderful news that Hampshire’s ‘Hitting the Cold Spots’, now in its fifth year, is one of the Community Action Awards winners.

“This award is a testament to all those in the county council, and our partners, who work hard every day to ensure residents of any age in Hampshire are warm and safe during the winter months.”

She added: “Keeping your home warm and you and your family healthy in the winter can be expensive and sometimes difficult.

“While it may be tempting to forget about it in the summer, I would urge residents not to wait until the colder months to get their heating and hot water problems sorted out.”

For more information and advice, call the Hitting the Cold Spots advice line on 0800 8048601 or visit www3.hants.gov.uk/cold-spots.