THOUSANDS of residents can apply for financial help with heating bills after this week's freezing weather.

Areas across Sussex have been hit by snow and ice as Storm Darcy arrived in the county.

The government's Cold Weather Payment scheme means eligible residents can apply for £25 in financial aid when temperatures fall to zero degrees celcius or below freezing for seven consecutive days or more.

READ MORE: Road closed both ways due to ice - drivers urged to take care

Set by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the scheme runs between November 1 and March 31 every winter.

Payments are made to those on low incomes receiving certain benefits, such as universal credit, pension credit or other forms of income support.

To check if you qualify, visit the gov.uk web page.

These are the postcodes in Sussex where residents are eligible for Cold Weather Payments:

BN5

BN6

TN3

TN5

TN6

TN7

TN8

TN20

TN22

GU8

GU27

GU28

GU29

GU30

GU31

GU33

RH6

RH10

RH11

RH12

RH13

RH14

RH15