Cold weather payments have been triggered in parts of Tatton as the country continues to battle freezing temperatures.

Residents in 15 postcode areas across the constituency including Middlewich, Northwich, Wilmslow and Holmes Chapel will automatically receive £25 to help them keep warm, if they are in receipt of certain benefits.

The Government’s cold weather payment scheme runs each year from November to the end of March and kicks in once temperatures at a weather station shows the average temperature has dropped, or is forecast to drop, to zero degrees Celsius or below for seven days in a row.

Across the country the Met Office collects data from 94 weather stations and Tatton’s temperatures are registered from Rostherne.

Tatton MP and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey said: “These payments are vital to help people keep warm in the winter. The freezing temperatures can be dangerous and older people are particularly vulnerable and those with serious health conditions, so we should all take time to check on our neighbours and make sure everyone is ok.

“These payments reduce the worry of finding extra money to warm their homes and mean people can turn up the heating knowing they will be given financial help to keep warm.”

The qualifying postcode areas for Tatton are CW10, CW4, CW8, CW9, M22, SK10, SK11, SK7, SK8, SK9, WA13, WA14, WA15, WA16 and WA4.

Cold Weather Payments are different to Winter Fuel Payments.