FREE thermometers are being offered by a Morpeth charity shop to help people guard against the cold.
Age UK, which has a shop in Newgate Street, has set up the initiative to help older people keep their home at the right temperature during the winter.
The charity advises that the main living area should be 21 degrees centigrade (70 Fahrenheit) and the bedroom should be at least 18 degrees centigrade (65 Fahrenheit).
Protection from the cold is vital for older people, who are particularly vulnerable to the impact of low temperatures, which can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, or bring on severe flu or chest infections and other respiratory problems.
Two free thermometers per person are available from the Age UK shop.
Advice on keeping warm can be found at www.spreadthewarmth.org.uk or by telephone on 0800 1696565.