REDDITCH Council has been named ‘council of the year’ and highly commended for its work to help people improve their homes.

The borough council was a runner-up in the vulnerable customer support campaigner category at the West Midlands Regional Energy Efficiency & Healthy Homes Awards in Birmingham earlier this month, helping it to earn the council of the year award together with Bromsgrove District Council as the councils share parts of the service.

Kath Manning, climate change and energy support officer at Redditch Borough Council, said: “We’re delighted to be recognised for helping homeowners reduce their energy bills, tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions.

“The Redditch Energy Efficiency Fund is designed to help people to put better, cheaper heating systems in their homes and can also help with loft and cavity insulation.

"Homeowners with a household income under the Worcestershire average of £37,000 may be eligible for £500 towards the cost of replacing an old boiler, and those on low incomes may be eligible for much more."

For more information on this or other types of support, call 0800 988 2881.