West Yorkshire's worst areas for over 65s without central heating

The data has been compiled by the PA news agency using figures published by the Office for National Statistics.

Data taken from the latest census shows which areas of the UK have the highest proportion of one-person households aged 65 and over without central heating.

The list is ranked by the proportion of households without central heating, starting with the highest.

Barrow-in-Furness ranks in first place at 5.4 per cent, followed by Gwynedd (4.6 per cent) and Portsmouth (4.5 per cent).

This places Calderdale in the top 10 worst areas for one-person households without central heating across the UK.

Calderdale falls in eighth place on the list at 4.1 per cent. 

Highest number of people affected

Leeds has the overall highest number of these households - 42,017- compared to other cities in West Yorkshire.

Full list for West Yorkshire 

It reads, from left to right: name of local authority, number of one-person households aged 65 and over, the number of these households with no central heating, and the percentage of these households with no central heating.

• Calderdale - 12,858 - 522 - 4.1 per cent
• Kirklees - 23,405 - 864 - 3.7 per cent
• Bradford -  26,075 - 951 - 3.6 per cent
• Leeds - 42,017 - 1532 - 3.6 per cent
• Wakefield - 20,705 - 284 - 1.4 per cent

Top 10 worst-affected areas in the UK by proportion

1. Barrow-in-Furness - 4,876 - 262 - 5.4 per cent
2. Gwynedd - 8,808 - 401 - 4.6 per cent
3. Portsmouth - 11,136 - 498  - 4.5 per cent
4. Pendle - 5,375 - 237  - 4.4 per cent
5. Waltham Forest - 8,701 - 371  - 4.3 per cent
6. Lambeth - 10,241  - 425  - 4.1 per cent
7. Cornwall - 41,023  - 1687  - 4.1 per cent
8. Calderdale - 12,858 - 522  - 4.1 per cent
9. Westminster - 10,067 - 407  - 4.0 per cent
10. Merton - 7,845 - 316 - 4.0 per cent

Age UK described the findings as being “of tremendous concern” and warned of “potentially serious consequences” for older people’s health and wellbeing.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at older people’s charity Age UK told PA: “Having limited money in later life really impacts day-to-day living, exacerbating feelings of loneliness and disconnection from society.

“These figures are of tremendous concern, as older people lacking central heating often find it very difficult to stay warm during the winter months with potentially serious consequences for their health and wellbeing.

“Living alone can make this situation worse as it means that one person’s income has to stretch further to cover the fixed costs of heating a home, and it can, in some cases, lead to social isolation, which can have additional negative consequences.”

Ms Abrahams called on the Government to “make sure that it is prepared for next winter”.

Age UK said anyone who is struggling, or their concerned families and friends, can contact its free Age UK advice line on 0800 169 65 65 which is open every day from 8am until 7pm.