DISADVANTAGED families in Newport will get help to insulate their homes thanks to a £615,000 Welsh Assembly grant.

Hard-up private homeowners in Ringland and Bettws will receive the money, distributed under the Assembly’s Arbed scheme, which was set up to help improve the energy performance of hard to insulate properties in the city.

The area was chosen due to high levels of fuel poverty and the number of non-traditional build houses.

The project is an energy performance investment programme, established to help fund home energy and renewable measures to fuel poor and low income households in Wales.

Jason Gunter, the council’s housing manager, said the scheme would help reduce the number of households in fuel poverty, would help tackle climate change and improve people’s lives in the city.

Environment Minister, Jane Davidson said Arbed was investing in homes in some of Wales' most deprived areas to make them much more energy efficient.

She said: “This will not only help reduce fuel bills for those that need it most, it will also help us to significantly reduce carbon emissions and create new job and training opportunities throughout Wales”.

“Happily this investment will ensure that householders in Newport feel the benefits of warmer homes and lower fuel bills for years to come.”

Anyone wanting further information about the scheme can contact the South East Wales Energy Agency on Newport 01633 223111.