WORCESTERSHIRE County Council's trading standards service and Worcestershire Age Concern have joined forces to offer, for a second time, a free testing service for elderly people in the county who own electric under blankets.

This follows a growing concern over the number of fires and deaths caused each year as a direct result of faulty blankets.

Last year nearly 50 per cent of the blankets were found to be faulty in some way and several were found to be extremely dangerous.

The test facility will be offered to anyone in Worcestershire over 65 and will be carried out on specific days at eight sites around the county.

Tests will be carried out here in Kidderminster on Friday, September 29 at Kidderminster Fire Station in Castle Road.

Anyone wishing to have their under blankets tested should contact the trading standards service on 01905 765394 from September 11 between 9am and 4.30pm (Monday to Friday) to make an appointment to attend the most convenient venue.

Age Concern Week

Events to mark Age Concern Week in Wyre Forest this month include an exhibition of craft work and photographs by members of the Tulip Tree Centre, at the organisation's coffee morning in Kidderminster Library on Thursday, September 21, between 10am and noon.

Winter Fuel Payments

The Government has increased the winter fuel payment to £150 per household to help towards heating bills for people aged 60 or over.

It will also be making retrospective payments to those who would have qualified for a winter fuel payment for winters 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Most of the people who will be eligible for retrospective payments will be men aged 60-64 who were not entitled to payments under the original rules of the scheme.

Winter fuel payments leaflets are available from Age Concern at the Tulip Tree Centre in Castle Road.

A helpline is also available on 08459 151515 and the line is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am until 4.30pm.

For further information regarding the contents of this column, telephone 01562 827788.

PAT SIMMONDS