A campaign to keep older people in Pemrbokeshire warm this winter launched on Monday.

The British Gas Help the Aged Partnership in Wales is teaming up with the Welsh Ambulance Service to deliver advice on keeping warm to pensioners across the country.

The latest figures show that thousands of over-60s in Pembrokeshire are worried about the perils of freezing weather in the coming months.

But there is plenty of help out there and the Partnership and the Welsh Ambulance Service are joining forces to help combat such winter worries.

British Gas Help the Aged Parternship in Wales spokesperson, Glenys Hughes-Jones, explained: "Cold weather can have a detrimental effect on older people's health, and this a major concern to one in six over 60s across Wales.

"The British Gas Help the Aged Partnership is issuing the 'Three Steps to a Warmer Winter' information pack to address these concerns.

"The pack is full of useful information on what older people can do to make sure that they are warm and safe and their homes properly insulated and heated during the winter months.

"The British Gas Help the Aged Partnership is very glad to announce that we are working with the Welsh Ambulance Service to distribute these packs directly to those people who will benefit most from receiving one."

They will be available on the Welsh Ambulance Service's Patient Care Services vehicles which transport thousands of older people to and from hospitals and clinics across Wales.

The 'Three Steps to a Warmer Winter' pack contains advice on checking entitlements, claiming benefits and insulating your home.

It comes with a special easy-to-understand thermometer to monitor room temperature, helpful hints on keeping your house warm and on claiming benefits - British Gas customers over the age of 70 qualify for free insulation.

So do many others, including those claiming Pension Credit, Disability Living Allowance and Income Support.

There is also a Help The Aged Senior Line, 0808 800 6565, a free national telephone helpline offering advice on services and entitlements for older people.

The Welsh Ambulance Service's Patient Care Services staff will be handing out the packs to older people who travel on their vehicles across the country and also distributing the packs at day units across the region.

Julie Winspear, regional head of service for the the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: "PCS staff will have the packs available to give to patients and because of their training they have the people skills to recognise those who may be at risk.

"They will also take the packs to day units across Wales so that they are available to those who don't use ambulance transport.

"This positive initiative will provide greater access to this valuable information to more communities in Wales.

"We welcome this opportunity to work with the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership.

"The Patient Care Service plays a key role in giving older people access to rehabilitation that enables them to live independently in the community, so I am delighted that we are part of this joint initiative."

PCS staffer Dewi Lewis said: "The majority of people we transport are elderly and so we are in the ideal position to hand out these leaflets.

"It's a tremendous job and very rewarding because you meet so many interesting people and are able to make a real difference to their lives and the link with British Gas Help The Aged is another facet of that."