AN appeal has been launched to take people out of fuel poverty and light up Christmas for families in and around Dartmouth.

Last winter, some householders were so short of money they stopped using their electricity altogether and were just lighting candles.

'We have to do better than that this year,' said food bank manager Dawn Shepherd, who revealed volunteers had been using their own money to help the most desperate cases.

'We had children running around in candlelit homes and had to ask the fire service to give safety talks to parents. We can't do another year of candles. So we're highlighting fuel poverty at the food bank and hoping people will support us.'

Already the campaign has got off to a flying start with a £500 donation from county and district councillor Jonathan Hawkins, who sits on the food bank committee. It came from his county council locality budget.

'In the run up to the festive season, it is important to ensure that families are not struggling with fuel poverty and that everybody has a good Christmas,' he said.

'We would like to ask those people who get the winter fuel allow­ance, if they do not need the money they may consider giving some, or all of it, to help those who do.

'There is a lot of poverty in Dart­mouth that is very well hidden.'

Dawn said many families affected by fuel poverty did not want charity and dreaded falling behind on fuel bills this winter.

'Many are seasonal workers who have seen their hours cut or are having benefits reassessed too.

For more on this story, see this week's Dartmouth Chronicle