The cold weather is a 'public health issue' for people over the age of 70, a charity has warned.

As a status yellow weather warning for low temperature comes into effect, ALONE has encouraged older people to reach out and use their services.

The charity's CEO Sean Moynihan told The Hard Shoulder that older people who live alone or who have chronic conditions are particularly vulnerable to the cold.

"Older people have high levels of energy poverty, we’ve seen excess winter deaths and some people get pneumonia and colds [after a cold snap] which can be quite serious," he said.

Mr Moynihan said the colder conditions also increase the risk of falls.

"If there's ice and snow on the ground, [the risk of falling] goes up and a broken hip above the age of 70 can be life-changing," he said.

ALONE is urging older people to get food and medications delivered and to prioritise heating.

"People get sick after the cold snap - please don't worry about the money around heating," he said.

"Spend the money on heating, spend it on food.

"The utility companies are generally very understanding and we can help negotiate [bills] with them as well."

Mature woman holding hot water bottle

Last year, ALONE supported 42,000 people and the charity is encouraging older people to reach out and use their services throughout the cold snap.

"If anybody wants to call us, we’re there 12 hours a day and no matter what the issue is we’ll support them - whether that’s access to medication, heating or food," he said.

"All our staff and volunteers will be checking in with those 42,000 people who used our services, and reaching out especially to those ones we’re aware of that are most vulnerable.

"We’ll also be liaising with other groups – the guards and the civil defence depending on where this goes."

You can learn more about ALONE here.

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Feature image shows an older person walking with a cane in colder weather, Alamy.