Bracknell man left in cold by heating grant scheme

An elderly Berkshire man has been left without heating over the winter months because of delays with a government scheme designed to help the vulnerable.

Thomas Davidson, 78, who lives in Bracknell, applied to the Warm Front scheme seven months ago but is still waiting for a new boiler.

Eaga, which runs the scheme, said there was a six to eight-month wait.

Mr Davidson's daughter, Sheilagh-Ann, said had she been warned of the wait she would have found the money herself.

Warm Front said it aimed to complete all its current orders by the end of March.

Ms Davidson said: "I understand it's a grant and it's an excellent scheme, however, if they had told me in August or June that it would take a year for Dad to have hot water or heating, I would have done something to get that boiler fixed."

Eaga said in a statement: "We make it clear to all customers at the outset that the scheme is not an emergency service and because of the high levels of demand and limited funds available there are waiting times.

"These have been running at between six and eight months."

The Department of Energy and Climate Change announced in December that the scheme, which gives heating grants to poor and vulnerable people, would not be accepting new applications this financial year after funding ran out.