Workers with approved plumbing qualifications could find themselves in demand to fit new appliances after Brits were encouraged to get involved with the boiler scrappage scheme.

The initiative, which provides a grant of up to £400 to 125,000 people who want to swap their old G-rated machine with a newer, more energy-efficient device, was launched by the government at the start of January.

It is expected to cut down on the UK's carbon emissions by 140,000 tonnes each year and save homes £200 on their energy bills annually.

Additionally, the initiative will offer employment to hundreds of thousands of tradespersons.

Yesterday (February 15th) the Department of Energy and Climate Change announced that some 70,000 households could still take advantage of the programme.

Energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband said: "The Boiler Scrappage scheme has proved incredibly popular."

He added that "the government scheme has truly kick-started a national programme of boiler replacement".

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