South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has urged people in Dumfries and Galloway on prepayment meters to claim cost of living support before the deadline on June 30.

Latest figures show that 6,770 households in the region are still to claim support they are entitled to through the Energy Bill Support Scheme.

These vouchers are designed to provide bill support for those on non-digital pre-payment meters – however, the deadline for redeeming them is the end of this month and many have gone unclaimed.

In total, £446,820 worth of support in Dumfries and Galloway has gone unclaimed.

Vouchers were sent out to households with non-digital pre-payment meters by post, email or text message. Anyone whose voucher hasn’t arrived, or is lost or expired can ask their supplier for a new one to be issued.

Commenting, Colin Smyth said: “Almost seven thousand families in Dumfries and Galloway are at risk of being short-changed without action.

“Bills are soaring and it is vital that people can get the support to which they are entitled.

“Anyone with a voucher they haven’t used needs to redeem it by June 30 so they don’t miss out.

“We urgently need more action from both the UK and the Scottish governments to help people through this cost of living crisis, and to ensure everyone can get what they are entitled to.”