Eligible Frodsham residents could get help with their bills during the cold weather with a one-off grant payment.

The government's Winter Grant Scheme, which is being distributed by Cheshire West and Chester Council, helps families who have been severely affected by the pandemic to pay for essentials such as food, fuel and water bills.

There is a payment of £45 per child or young person for food support as well as a payment of £35 per household for eligible children and families to support around fuel and water bills.

To qualify for the Winter Grant Scheme payment, families or individual households must meet one of the following criteria:

• Families with children receiving free school meals on 1 December 2020.

• Families receiving either a Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction on 1 December 2020 and with children below the age of four, or children between the ages of 16 and 18 inclusive.

• Individuals who have left the care of Cheshire West and Chester Council and are below the age of 25 on 1 December 2020.

Citizens Advice Cheshire West in conjunction with The Fuel Bank Foundation will also receive £25,000 from the fund to work with people who are struggling to meet their fuel bills.

Meanwhile, Disability Positive has been awarded £15,000 to support individual children and adults it works with who have long-term health conditions, helping them access food, energy or water bill support.

Councillor Carol Gahan, Cabinet Member for Legal and Finance said: "We know how difficult the pandemic has made lives for many of our residents across the borough.

"We hope that the Winter Grant Scheme payments will go some way to helping families and individuals with the costs of food, fuel and water over the winter period."

To apply for the Winter Grant Scheme, click here.