Chronicle Live reports that North East families living in rural County Durham and Northumberland who have no mains gas will be receiving an additional £200 cost of living payment in the new year

The Alternative Fuel Payment, which will be given to up to four million households who rely on fuels such as heating oil or LPG, will be made "as soon as possible in the New Year", according to the Government.

The £200 payment is in addition to the £400 energy bill support scheme all households with an electricity supply receive.

If you're eligible for the payment, you should get the money automatically from your electricity supplier, most likely as a bill credit on your electricity bill.

Because there is no register of people who do not use mains gas for their heating, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said it was "working at pace with stakeholders to identify the best method of identifying eligible customers and making payments to them in a way which is as easy as possible".

Fuel article:

Chronicle Live - Families with no gas will get extra £200 to help pay for heating in the new year