Scotland's boiler scrappage scheme has closed after just 36 hours because thousands of eligible householders have snapped up all the available vouchers.
The Scottish government began issuing 4,600 boiler scrappage vouchers (worth £400 each) on Monday, May 24 but when more than 4,600 eligible householders applied, the scheme was forced to close.

A government spokesman admitted the boiler scrappage vouchers were all allocated by Tuesday night (May 25).

Energy Minister Jim Mather said: 'I'm pleased thousands of people have taken advantage of our £2 million support to replace their inefficient boilers.'

Critics have expressed anger that most eligible householders have missed out because so few vouchers were available in Scotland, compared with 125,000 vouchers available in England.

The scheme was open to households with the most inefficient, G-rated boilers. If eligible, households would receive a £400 voucher towards the installation of a new boiler.

The Scottish government announced in February that it would commit in full the £2 million Scotland received as a result of UK government expenditure on its boiler scrappage scheme.