OLD and disabled residents on a Kirklees Council estate are calling for a gas central heating to replace their electric system, which they say is crippling them financially.

Residents at Croftlands, Newsome, say their Economy 7 night storage heaters are not strong enough to heat their bungalows and flats in winter.

They have to resort to extra electric fires, which they say cost a fortune if they want to be warm.

Mrs Margaret Wood, 69, who has lived on the estate for six years with her husband Gordon, said: "The night storage heaters are just not adequate. There is not enough heat that comes out during the day. Come teatime it is cold."

Last year she received an electricity bill of £150 for three months over the winter.

Mrs Jean Goodison, of the Street Watch action group, said because the residents had heaters, the properties met government Decent Standards guidelines.

"But this is no comfort to residents who have been freezing through too many winters."

She believed the houses could be converted to gas central heating at a cost of £375 per house.

Kirklees Council said: "Economy 7 heating meets the Kirklees Decent Homes standard which reflects the government standard and therefore it will not be repl- aced as part of the programme of work."