The electricity operator providing power to Bolton has joined forces with a leading kidney patient support charity to help provide additional support for its customers.

Electricity North West and Kidney Care UK will work together to raise awareness of Electricity North West’s Extra Care Register (ECR) a new free service for people with kidney disease.

Across the North West, 415,000 people have kidney disease and as well as the charity raising awareness of the ECR, specialist training has also been provided to Electricity North West employees which will help provide a more specialist response and service.

Customers who are at a pensionable age, parents/guardians with children under five, and people with a disability or in vulnerable circumstances can register for the service.

As well as providing support during power cuts, through its partnerships and referral networks, Electricity North West helped 11,000 people in the region save £4.4m through advice and support over the last 12 months.

Stephanie Trubshaw, Electricity North West’s customer services and connections director, said: “While thankfully the power network is very reliable, power cuts can still happen.

“People with specific medical needs might find that a power cut impacts them more than others, our register is here to provide additional help and support.

“Partnerships are a vital way as to how we can provide crucial expert tailored services to the customers of electricity North West.

"This is a new, partnership to add to the other specialist partnership already in place for hundreds of thousands of people across the North West.”