Drop-in advice clinics are being planned for Seaton and Axminster

Householders in East Devon are being offered help to cut their energy bills and stay warm in winter.

In-depth advice is being provided through the Healthy Homes for Wellbeing project.

It is planning a series of free energy advice events, with community talks and drop-in clinics, at towns across the region including Axminster and Seaton.

Home visits, conducted by fully trained home energy advisers, can also be arranged for those who are eligible.

A survey is carried out and then a tailored support package is offered. This includes energy saving tips, installation of free, easy measures like low-energy LED light bulbs and draught proofing, help with bills, switching and discounts, and grants for insulation and heating.

Referrals can also be made for benefit checks, debt advice and safety checks.

Eligibility for the home visits is deliberately wide, including low income, long term health issues, disabilities, benefits and recent bereavement.

There are a number of schemes available to help with the costs of upgrading insulation or replacing broken heating. The advisors can connect people to government energy company obligation funding, which helps to improve the energy efficiency of homes. Access is also available to the emergency central heating offer fund when boilers are broken or beyond economical repair.

Healthy Homes works closely with other organisations such as Age UK, The Alzheimer's Society, local authorities, housing associations, health and social teams and local fire services. Energy Advisors are also available to give talks at coffee mornings, older peoples clubs, memory cafés and health groups.

Drop-in energy advice clinics take place at Seaton Foodbank - No.1 Harepath Road - on Wednesday, May 22, from 2pm to 4pm.

Axminster Job Club at Pippins, Lyme Road, on Thursday, June 13, from 10am to 12.30pm.

People are asked to take along their energy and water bills to see how much money they could save.

To book a free LEAP home energy visit call ECOE on 01395 276734 or 07731 540215, or email healthyhomes@ecoe.org.uk. All local energy advice clinic dates and more information can be found at www.ecoe.org.uk/healthy-homes-wellbeing/

People can also use the online referral form which can be found at www.ecoe.org.uk/healthy-homes-wellbeing/referral-form/