AN EMERGENCY cash handout will give a stay of execution to a popular advice service used by pensioners in Lancashire, it has been revealed.

An information, advice and guidance service has been provided by Age Concern Lancashire for the last six years, using Big Lottery funding.

But the financial backing ran out on Tuesday, leaving questionmarks over its future.

Coun Anne Brown, Lancashire County Council’s adult and community services cabinet member, is now set to agree a £50,000 grant to secure the scheme’s short-term health.

Council officials admit the current project will only be able to run on a smaller scale, for the next 12 months.

In the meantime, civil servants will continue work on a new countywide ‘Help Direct Outreach’ service, wh-ich will cover similar work.

Steve Gross, adult services director, said in a report that the development of Help Direct was still at an early stage, but there were clear links between the two schemes and their aims.

“This work will be completed at the end of 2009, at which time commissioning decisions can be made,” said Mr Gross.

“In the interim, the loss of Age Concern’s information, advice and guidance service would have an adverse impact on older people, particularly in East Lancashire and Wyre.”

The service offers advice on benefits, health and social care, transport, legal matters, and leisure opportunities.

It has helped older people in the county access £2.5million in benefits they were entitled to, but not receiving.

The Lancashire Telegraph’s Dying from the Cold campaign was launched earlier this year in a bid to help stop elderly people dying from cold-related illness.

Ease of access to benefits is a key part of this campaign.