TRADING Standards officers from Norfolk County Council today (Thursday) reminded residents of ways to ensure they get best value for money when buying home heating fuel. Heating oil-related complaints to the county council dropped by about 75 per cent in

TRADING Standards officers from Norfolk County Council today (Thursday) reminded residents of ways to ensure they get best value for money when buying home heating fuel.

Heating oil-related complaints to the county council dropped by about 75 per cent in 2009 after the department linked up with five Norfolk heating fuel distributors last January.

The distributors delivered a Trading Standards consumer guidance leaflet direct to each resident purchasing home heating fuel.

The county council today reminded residents that leaflet is still available, because the recent cold snap increases the use of home heating fuel.

Adrian Chapman, metrology services manager for Norfolk County Council Trading Standards, said: "Issuing guidance directly to home heating fuel consumers via five of the county's distributors was very well received and I believe has played a major factor in the large reduction of heating fuel complaints being made to Norfolk County Council Trading Standards.

"The guide, which is all the more relevant during the current cold weather, takes consumers and businesses through the process of buying heating fuel and suggests appropriate steps they can take to ensure they get value for money, how to keep heating fuel secure and use it wisely."

The leaflet includes advice about shopping around to ensure best value and the benefit of community purchasing.

It also contains information about estimating how much is in your tank before and after delivery - with many historic complaints to Trading Standards coming from individuals who have misread or misunderstood readings.

Advice from Norfolk Police on how to keep supplies secure and avoid heating thefts is also included. The issue was highlighted this week when Banham Primary School, near Thetford, had to close for the day after thieves were believed to have stolen the heating oil.

• The leaflet is available from Norfolk County Council's website by clicking here and clicking on Consumer Advice and Protection.

Alternatively the leaflet can be accessed from the County Council's Twitter page - click here.