Around 10,000 more families will get help to save around £900 a year on fuel bills, through the Scottish Government's Energy Assistance Package.

Central heating systems, home insulation, thermostats and green energy devices will be on offer to low-income families with children under 16.

Families who receive a wide range of benefits including child tax credit, income support and housing benefit will be eligible.

The Fuel Poverty Forum - set up by the Scottish Government to look at ways to tackle fuel poverty - has also been asked by Ministers to investigate extending eligibility to chronically ill and cancer patients in Scotland.

The scheme's national free phone helpline number - 0800 512 012 - provides instant energy savings advice to everyone who calls, as well as help to switch to cheaper tariffs and get all the benefits households are entitled to.

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Households who had heating and insulation devices installed by the scheme last year saved on average £860 on fuel bills. Households who moved to cheaper tariffs and payment methods saved on average nearly £300 a year.

Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil said: "It's important that we give all the support we can to those effected by severe illness and who may therefore be struggling with fuel costs too - we've asked the Fuel Poverty Forum to investigate what we can do in this area and we'll be considering their recommendations as a matter of priority."

John Dickie of the Children's Fuel Poverty Coalition in Scotland added: "Tackling fuel poverty amongst families is an important part of the drive to eradicate child poverty once and for all. No child should ever have to be cold at home.

"However we should not be complacent. The key challenge is to ensure that families who are now eligible are aware of this new support and take advantage of it. There's still much to do to ensure that all fuel poor families are supported if fuel poverty is to be eradicated."

(GK/BMcc)