Freezing weather conditions mean thousands of elderly and vulnerable people in the Bristol region are in line for an extra £50 to help them cover their heating costs.

The cold weather payments, which are triggered when the average temperature falls, or is forecast to fall, to 0ºC or below for seven consecutive days, will go to pensioners and benefit claimants in areas surrounding the Filton weather station.

Those eligible include pensioners, severely disabled people and families with a child under five or a severely disabled child, receiving pension credit or income-related benefits.

The payment has been trebled by the Government this year from £8.50 to £25 a week. As of Monday, payouts had been triggered at 48 of the UK's 76 weather stations, prompting 3.7million payments totalling £93m.

Temperatures plummeted in the week after Christmas, leading to payouts for people in postcodes BS1-11, BS13-16, BS20-24, BS29-32, BS34-37, BS39-41 and BS48-49.

These postcodes cover Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and the Keynsham area.

Extra payments will also be made to cover this week after forecasters predicted the temperature will remain below 0ºC until January 9.

Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said: "We don't want people to worry about turning up their heating when it's cold. That is why we've trebled the cold weather payment to £25, to put money in the pockets of the people who need it most.

"Millions of vulnerable people and pensioners are now in line for this extra help after the recent cold snap."

The Government has also increased Christmas bonuses for pensioners and disabled people from £10 to £70 this year, as well as boosting winter fuel payments to £250 for those in households with someone 60 or over, and £400 for those with someone 80 and above.

Payments are made automatically to those who qualify.