Severe cold weather is set to hit Southport this week, with overnight temperatures plummeting to -3°c.
Frost and ice is expected and gritters will be mobilised across the town.
People are being urged to use their heating, despite rising energy prices, and to look out for people who are especially vulnerable.
Health care providers are also being told to implement cold weather plans under a level three cold weather alert, between 18:00 GMT on Wednesday and 09:00 on 12 December in most parts of England.
Higher than average temperatures throughout October and much of November, combined with rising energy bills, meant that many people have put off turning the heating on to warm their homes.
However, this could prove dangerous for vulnerable people.
The World Health Organization considers an “adequately warm home” as reaching as 21C in living rooms and 18C in bedrooms – but studies have shown that the average temperature that people will be living in if they can’t afford to heat their homes is only 10C.
Sophie Barrett, spokesperson for Age UK, urged people to put the heating on and ensure it reaches a level high enough to stay warm at home.
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