The Premier League star, who is said to be on 150,000 a week, applied for the work under Energy Companies Obligation system introduced by the Coalition last year

A millionaire footballer got 10,000 worth of wall insulation for his mansion for FREE under a Government scheme while a frail 98-year-old widow was left to freeze in her home nearby .

The Premier League star, who is said to be on 150,000 a week, applied for the work under the Energy Companies Obligation system introduced by the Coalition last year.

Under the so-called energy efficient scheme, the football aces three-storey pad was classed as hard-to-treat, which meant he got all the work done for free as it would save on future bills.

But the hard-up pensioner living on benefits in the same area in a three-bedroom semi was left out in the cold.

A disgusted insulation firm boss called to work for the lady and then the footie star just 24 hours later explained: ECO is an umbrella scheme based on different pots of money paid out for homes which are hard-to-treat, in low-income areas and judged fuel poor.

But the money available for the fuel poor has plummeted since December because energy companies have hit their targets on reducing carbon emissions.

Contractors could earn 12,000 on a job which only cost 1,200 because the payment is based on future carbon saving at the property.

But most of those suffering from fuel poverty are in small houses and are not going to make those kinds of savings on fuel emissions.

The man, who asked to remain anonymous, went on to attack the ludicrous inequality of system.

See the article here:

Millionaire footballer gets 10,000 FREE mansion insulation while frail 98-year-old widow left to freeze