A FUND set up to help people in Dalry who are struggling with their winter energy bills will close to new applications at the end of this month.

More than 750 Dalry households have benefited from the Dalry Parish Boundary Trust's Energy Fund since it was established in the spring.

The trust, which distributes community benefit grants and funds on behalf of Community Windpower Ltd, operators of the Dalry Community Windfarm, set up the fund in April to provide help to residents with their electricity costs.

It was supposed to operate for three months, but was then extended month on month.

The trust now says the fund will close to new applications, from anyone who has not previously applied or benefited from a previous claim, on December 31.

A spokesperson for the trust said: "The criteria for new claims remains as it has been since the fund opened: pensioners over 66 years who are council tax payers in receipt of the state pension; an occupant of any household living with cancer; an occupant of any household with medical equipment which requires electricity; an occupant of any household in receipt of a disability benefit; or a household with children in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment."

In most cases, households will be granted a base £100 towards electricity usage.

Additional payments will be made to qualifying households: £200 to a pensioner household where one of the council tax payers is in receipt of the state pension; £200 to a household where illness and /or disability can be evidenced; and £200 to a household with children in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.

Applications must be completed online at www.communityadvice.scot.

if you require further information contact Dalry Parish Boundary Trust at info@dalryparishboundarytrust.org or call 07768017864.