WORK has started on the first phase of a £3million programme to cut the risk of fuel poverty among hundreds of households in Paisley.

It will result in more than 700 homes in the Gallowhill area benefitting from measures to help residents save money on heating bills and make homes more energy efficient.

The hard to heat properties, which were built in the 1930s, will get external wall insulation, potentially saving residents hundreds of pounds each year on energy bills.

The work is being carried out by energy company E.ON on behalf of Renfrewshire Council. The homes in the area have already benefited from loft insulation.

Research showed residents in the Gallowhill and George Street areas of Paisley are at high risk of fuel poverty due to poor wall insulation or outdated heating systems.

Tommy Wilson, convener of the council's housing and community safety policy board, said: "We have made a clear commitment to tackling the causes of poverty within our communities and have undertaken extensive work to research the areas where households are most at risk.

"These houses in Gallowhill are older and poorly insulated meaning they can lose energy and cost people more to heat.

"By pulling in funding and working with E.ON we are able to provide modern external wall insulation to more than 700 households for free.

"This will make a huge difference to people and make the houses more energy efficient for years to come."

The council has also launched a separate £6m fund to tackle child poverty in the area.