THE Daily Echo's campaign to make sure the most vulnerable residents keep warm in their homes during the winter months is gathering pace.

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead has already come out in support of our Winter Warmers campaign.

Now Age Concern Hampshire has backed increasing calls to put an end to fuel poverty - one of the biggest and most concerning issues facing the county's elderly population this winter.

The organisation's assistant chief officer John Moreton endorsed the campaign wholeheartedly, particularly as people across Hampshire have been warned to brace themselves for snow.

He said: "Without campaigns like the Echo's, it is very hard to get the message across to people.

"Even in this day and age and in one of the most developed countries and economies in the world there is an unacceptable number of older people who are suffering severe ill health or who die prematurely because they are not keeping their homes warm enough."

The Daily Echo has revealed how 23,218 pensioners across Hampshire will be without central heating this winter. Across the south east alone 2,900 people over the age of 65 will die as a result of illnesses brought on because they cannot afford to heat their homes.

A Department of Health study also revealed that 4,017 of Southampton's 32,000 over-65s have no central heating in their homes.

The next coldest spots are the New Forest (1,803 homes), Gosport (1,431), Fareham (1,357), Eastleigh (1,088), Test Valley (798) and Winchester (715).

Temperatures are set to fall to 3oC or 4oC today but strong winds were making it feel well below freezing.

Mr Moreton said that help and guidance was on hand from the Age Concern's Hampshire and Southampton branches for those who did not know what energy grants were available to them.

He added: "Sometimes older people who are in difficult financial circumstances attempt to spend their money on other things. That could mean spending money on Christmas presents or having to make the unenviable decision between eating and keeping their house heated. We have to do all we can to ensure that our older people have sufficient to eat and to keep warm."

For advice and guidance call 0800 3287154 and Age Concern on 023 8036 8636.