Hundreds of elderly residents have endured a miserable winter, struggling to pay costly fuel bills and living in cold, damp conditions.

But 75-year-old Mrs Roberts, of Shrewsbury, has managed to stay warm and ensure her home is affordable to heat thanks to Marches Energy Agency.

The Shropshire-based social enterprise, one of the UK's leading sustainable energy and climate change organisations, is tackling the growing problem of fuel poverty head-on through its Keep Shropshire Warm initiative, managed by the Action Heat team.

With nearly four million households in the UK struggling to heat their homes adequately, and older people accounting for half of those, the organisation is determined to create an affordable and warm environment for all.

Mrs Roberts, a grandmother-of-seven, said her quality of life has improved dramatically since benefiting from the initiative.

"The help and advice that I was given from day one was excellent," she said.

"I had reluctantly moved from a three-bedroom house to a smaller bungalow. It needed a lot of work and had been empty for almost 12 months.

"I didn't know about the various measures that can be taken to insulate a property, so when I discovered that I was eligible for a grant because I am over 70 I was delighted.

"The team provided advice about loft and cavity wall insulation, they helped with my application for funding, and I cannot fault the men who completed the work - they were respectful, pleasant and very hard working."

Mrs Roberts is an example of just one delighted customer who has successfully secured grant funding.

Launched in January 2008, Keep Shropshire Warm, funded by DEFRA - the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, works in partnership with the Shropshire Partnership and Shropshire Council. Since the start of the scheme it has assisted nearly 6,000 homes with affordable warmth measures.

Jo Meakin, Senior Project Manager for Action Heat, said: "We will offer help and advice to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.

"More than £3.1 million worth of grant funding has already been accessed and there is much more available. We are determined to reduce the number of households who struggle to heat their homes."

Marches Energy Agency is currently offering free insulation to residents of Shropshire who are in receipt of benefit or over the age of 70. For more information, and details of all discounted rates, contact a member of the action heat team on 01743 277 123.