The festive season is warming up after a volunteer donated bags of coal to help struggling pensioners stay warm after controversial changes to the Winter Fuel Payments.

While folklore says Father Christmas would leave a lump of coal in stockings for naughty children, this gesture is a serious one after fears the most vulnerable will struggle to pay for heating during the colder months.

The coal has been donated to Age UK Radstock, a charity shop owned by the country’s leading charity dedicated to supporting people in later life.

The Winter Fuel Payment is a lump sum of £300 given to help people stay warm over winter, a payment which has now become means tested meaning those outside of the threshold will lose out.

Age UK has opposed the changes, having created a petition calling for a reversal to the change which has received over 550,000 signatures.

The charity believes the move will seriously impact poor and vulnerable pensioners.

The volunteer, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the donation is ”a gesture of goodwill to anyone who is suffering through the loss of their Winter Fuel Payment so they can have a bit of warmth and cheer at Christmas."

Age UK Radstock is inviting pensioners to head to the shop and speak to a member of the team to take advantage of this early Christmas gift.

The store can be found on Frome Road in Radstock with the postal code BA3 3PT. The shop opens seven days a week from 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am-4pm on Sunday.