Pharmacies across North Wales have teamed up with two charities to provide free thermometers for the over-60s.

The free thermometers, available as part of Age Cymru's Keep Well this Winter campaign, come with tips on preparing for cold weather and reporting gas leaks.

Community pharmacies were an ideal place for being in contact with otherwise hard-to-reach people in the population, said Judy Henley, North Wales regional director of Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW).

"People are popping in to our local chemists six or seven days a week whether they are well or ill," she said. "We hope this joint project will enable some of our older patients in North Wales to keep their homes warm in this cold weather."

Age Cymru campaign coordinator Joanne Bass, stressed the importance of older people staying warm during the winter months.

"Exposure to cold temperatures can lead to older people suffering from hypothermia and increase the risk of a stroke, heart attack or respiratory illnesses," she said. "This is why it is so important that older people are able to monitor the temperature in their homes and keep it between the safe range of 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 18 to 21 degrees Celsius."

Age Cymru is an alliance between Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales.