Leicestershire County Council says vouchers have been sent to around 11,000 pensioners across the county to help them with the continuing cost-of-living crisis.

The one-off £100 payment is the latest part of Leicestershire County Council's £10 million-plus package of support designed to support people in the face of soaring energy bills and rising food prices and other day-to-day costs.

The wide-ranging support is helping people make their homes more energy-efficient, delivering food vouchers for 14,000 children during school holidays and providing emergency food, fuel and debt advice.

The voucher can be exchanged for cash at any PayPoint retailer by 16 December.

Councillor Lee Breckon, the council's cabinet lead member for finance and resources, said: "Everywhere you look it is obvious that vulnerable people in Leicestershire are feeling the bite of the cost-of-living crisis.

"We, as a council, cannot control some of the major economic factors pushing up costs but we are in a position to help our older residents who may be finding things harder than others.

"There are thousands of Leicestershire pensioners who are worried about paying their bills. 

"The new £100 payment will off them some relief and I'd urge them to claim it."

Information about support with cost of living is available HERE.

The £100 payments and food vouchers are available through the Household Support Fund.