Sunderland charity urging pensioners to stay warm

Age UK Sunderland is warning pensioners to keep warm following a cold weather warning.

The Met Office has issued a cold weather alert for North East England with a strong chance of temperatures falling below 2°C rtoday and tomorrow.

A spokesman for Age UK Sunderland said they want older people to make sure they have everything they need in their homes to keep warm and well.

He said: "As you get older it takes longer to warm up which can be bad for your health. The cold thickens blood and increases blood pressure, and breathing in cold air can increase the risk of chest infections."

The ideal temperature for a bedroom is 18°C and 21°C for a living room.

Residents and families are urged to ask older people to check their thermostat or use a room thermometer to monitor temperature, and keep their bedroom windows shut on a winter night.