The UK Coalition Government reopened the Warm Front scheme yesterday in a bid to help 90,000 of the country's poorest households move out of fuel poverty.

Under the scheme, householders who struggle to afford to heat their home can apply for assistance to install energy efficiency measures up to a value of £3500 like more efficient heating systems, loft and cavity wall insulation and draught proofing.

According to the Government's most recent figures, there are 4.5 million households living in fuel poverty, which is defined as those spending more than 10% of their income on heating their home.

But the Coalition closed the scheme in December last year after allocating all the available funds. The budget for the scheme was also cut in the Spending Review, with £110 million available this financial year and £100 million in 2012/13.

The scheme is now better focused on low income households, says the Government, following a consultation on the scheme launched last month.

"We have improved the Warm Front scheme so it's better targeted at those who need it most, helping around 90,000 households over the next two years," commented Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne yesterday.

Eligibility for assistance will be based on a combination of income-related benefits, echoing those used to allocate cold weather payments. But household thermal efficiency will also be taken into account to ensure that the most energy inefficient homes are targeted.