An elderly people's group is opening an open day to help people “beat the winter cold”.

The event comes after the Enfield Over 50s Forum revealed that 147 elderly people died last winter because of the cold.

Andrew Whelan, leader of Enfield Borough Council’s energy management team will be speaking at the event on Wednesday, October 1, at the Art Zone, in Market Hall, Edmonton Green.

Forum president Monty Meth said: "In the winter of 2012 to 2013, 31,000 older people died over and above the normally expected number of deaths in Britain as a direct result of being cold causing heart attacks, strokes and pneumonia.

"Enfield had the 1tenth highest figure for these excess winter deaths out of 326 local councils in England and Wales with­ 179 deaths in the 2011 to 2012 winter.

“Last winter, there were 147 excess deaths in Enfield among older people hit by the cold - and we¹re told that many of them could have been avoided.

“Having the warmest September for 50 years should not prevent us preparing for the winter ahead and making sure we don¹t let the cold make us ill. So we¹ll be having workshops, stalls and speakers giving a host of tips from preparing healthy winter food to making sure everyone has the flu jab next month.”

Enfield GP Dr Alpesh Patel will talk about staying healthy this winter and Christine Tate, head of corporate responsibility at British Gas, will speak on keeping energy costs down.

Indoor exercises to keep the circulation flowing will also be provided as well as a free hot lunch prepared by Edmonton Green's All Spice.