Elderly residents in Durham have been given unusual advice from the local council to help them stay warm during an impending cold snap. Temperatures are expected to feel as low as -7°C, prompting an amber cold health alert from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the north-east of England.
Durham County Council, now led by Reform UK, issued winter safety guidance encouraging residents to keep moving. “Stay active — keep moving, even if you're sitting down. Just wiggling your fingers and toes will help you keep warm,” the council said, adding that people should try not to sit still for more than an hour indoors.
Other tips from the council include eating well, with hot meals and drinks regularly throughout the day, and keeping homes at a constant temperature between 18-21°C during the day and at least 18°C at night. Residents are also advised to keep bedroom windows closed and consider using hot water bottles or electric blankets.
The UKHSA’s amber cold health alert, issued on Sunday, is likely to cause significant impacts on health and social care services, including a rise in deaths among those aged 65 or over or with pre-existing health conditions. The alert is in place until noon on January 5, with North-west England also under an amber alert.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, urged people to check on vulnerable individuals, noting that the cold increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and chest infections. Meanwhile, a separate Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice covers parts of Scotland from New Year’s Day, with up to 10-20cm of snow expected on higher ground.
