Elderly people are being urged to claim a £200 winter fuel allowance.

Most older people will receive the payment automatically, but some will have to claim it in order to get it before Christmas.

The payment can be claimed by anyone aged 60 and over who is a UK resident, from September 17-23. Anyone who receives a State Retirement Pension or social security benefit (excluding Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Child Benefit) during the week, or who received the payment last year, does not need to claim it. More than 100,000 people in Oxfordshire claimed the payment last year.