LOCAL councils and businesses have joined forces to try to cut down the amount of fossil fuels being burned in the average home and hopefully, in turn, reduce the effects of global warming.

Warm Hearted Homes, an initiative set up by conservation group Wiltshire Agenda 21, has joined forces with Kennet District Council, Chippenham-based A&M Insulations Ltd and Scottish Power to offer discounts on loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.

Under the scheme A&M Insulations is cutting the cost of loft and cavity wall insulation by 40 per cent for householders. For example, it now costs only £175 for cavity wall insulation and £115 for 200mm of loft insulation in a typical three-bedroom semi.

Jo Badham, energy efficiency adviser at Warm Hearted Homes, said: "As a result of the quantity of fossil fuel already burned, the global warming we're all beginning to experience is, unfortunately, inevitable for the next 30 years."

For more information on the scheme, phone free on 0800 512012.