A HOME heating scheme which helps poorly insulated houses has celebrated its 1,000th customer in Stirling.

James McGrory and his wife Janette from Afton Court, Braehead, are the latest people to benefit from the Home Energy Efficiency Programme Scotland (HEEPS).

HEEPS is an initiative between Stirling Council and the Scottish Government that allows local authorities to bid for funding to treat ‘hard to heat’ private homes with external wall insulation.

The programme helps reduce fuel poverty and carbon emissions.

Mr McGrory, 76, said: “I’ve definitely noticed a difference already. 

“We had the heating on one morning last week when Janette was a bit cold and I never had to put it back on all night. We’ve got the thermostat and a smart meter as well and I’ve noticed a difference there too."

Since the programme began, Stirling Council has secured over £9million of funding and a further £2million of ECO funding from power companies.

This has enabled the Council to deliver external wall insulation to 1,000 private homes over the past six years at no cost to the owners.

Councillor Evelyn Tweed, housing portfolio holder for Stirling Council said: “It’s a real honour to mark this achievement thanks to the funding from the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Efficiency Programme.

“Winter is just around the corner so there is no better time to see a landmark figure like this reached before the bad weather well and truly sets in."