Watford residents were split on the government scrapping winter fuel payments for thousands of pensioners, as some warned vulnerable people "will suffer".

The changes mean around 10,000 elderly people in the town - 88 per cent of those previously eligible - will not receive the £200 annual allowance to help heat their homes, according to Department for Work and Pensions data.

Government figures show around 1,400 will continue to receive the money this winter as they are eligible for Pension Credit or another means-tested benefit.

Lifelong Watford resident Richard Franklin, 75, branded the move “absolutely disgraceful” as he warned it would affect the most vulnerable.

The retired business owner said: "We will be ok on the whole, but my mother is 94 and she is going to struggle with this. Pensioners don't have a way of making the money back." 

Around 10,000 Watford pensioners will lose the £200 annual payment.Around 10,000 Watford pensioners will lose the £200 annual payment. Although he thought the scheme should be means-tested, Richard disagreed with the decision to scrap it for the majority of pensioners.

His wife Rosemary agreed, adding: “You can't whitewash everybody with the same brush, everybody's circumstances are different.”

Although Garston resident Sue Bayliss will be not be personally affected, she also hit out at the “disgraceful” decision.

The 86-year-old said: "I'm concerned for all of those who have to go without it. It's the right amount that you need at this time of year and I'm sure lots will suffer.”

Watford residents have warned pensioners will suffer as they lose the £200 payment.Watford residents have warned pensioners will suffer as they lose the £200 payment. Former store manager Cynthia Bardini also warned that money will be “very tight” and she may have to move house without the allowance this year.

The 76-year-old said: “I’m already on reduced heating but I will have to cut down more. It means I am considering moving home after 34 years. MPs should think about cutting their own allowances as they look at ours."

But not everybody was against the government’s decision, such as care home worker Shirley Hugill, who felt the benefit should be means-tested to target the pensioners who need it the most.

The 64-year-old west Watford local said: "I don't think rich pensioners should receive it, although pensioners are being taxed on their private pension and personal savings."

Shirley Hugill felt the benefits should be reserved for pensioners who need it.Shirley Hugill felt the benefits should be reserved for pensioners who need it. (Image: Newsquest) Retired Croxley Green resident Gail Foulkes, 77, also felt the fuel payment was “overused” and money saved could be used elsewhere. 

“There are definitely some people who don’t need it and I usually donate mine to Shelter," she added.

PM Sir Keir Starmer used a Downing Street speech yesterday (August 27) to claim he “didn’t want to means-test” the payment, but said it was a “choice we had to make” to help “repair the public finances”.

The Prime Minister said there is a need to be “honest with people about the choices that we face”, adding: “Things will get worse before they get better.”