HEALTH chiefs have issued a warning about keeping warm this winter.
When the weather gets colder, everyone is likely to catch colds or flu. And if the body temperature drops, the risk of a heart attack, stroke or breathing difficulties increase. This is especially true for vulnerable people such as the elderly, those chronically ill and young children.
The best way to combat winter is to keep warm and well.
How to heat your home economically and effectively and sources of information and where to obtain help and advice are all-important.
That's why the Department of Health is running a free Keep Warm, Keep Well helpline, open Monday-Friday, 8am-8pm, on 0800 085 7000.
For deaf people, who use a text-only telephone, there is a minicom winter warmth advice line on 0800 085 7857.
CHESHIRE is one of only three areas in the North West which pays above the national average.
The GMB trade union says the county is one of three areas where the average gross weekly earnings for full-time workers exceed the national average of £504.90 a week and the North West average of £469.50.
It says Cheshire pays an average of £507.10 to workers a week, and is beaten only by Manchester, then Trafford.
Bottom of the list of 21 districts surveyed is Tameside, with £396.10, with Wirral at number 19.
The figures come from the Office of National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours & Earnings 2004.
THE Post Office is reminding travellers to ensure they have an up-to-date E111 form for travel in the European Union from January 1 next year.
A new, revised E111 has been introduced following an agreement between participating members of the European Union. And each family member will now be required to have their own form.
The E111, valid in all 25 EU member countries, entitles the holder to medical treatment but those issued before August 19 2004 are only valid until the end of this year. The new E111 form is available from any post office.
