THE marching band of the Lancashire Fusiliers beat the drum for a £520,000 project for old people in sheltered housing.

They played at an open day to mark the integrated extra care scheme on Falcon Close and Griffin Close in Bury.

The traditional sheltered service with a warden on call or on the site has been replaced by, what council bosses call, a more modern and integrated approach.

Residents have their own "care package" tailored to their needs. Nursing and domiciliary support such as cleaning is provided on site with cover available 24 hours a day. Some of the properties have been improved.

Services include daily welfare checks and intercom calls, help with cooking, shopping and housework, financial advice and dealing with neighbourhood disputes. There are organised activities such as luncheon clubs and coffee mornings, and escorted trips to the bingo and supermarkets.

Councillor Tim Chamberlain, executive member for health and social services, said: "The council has taken some difficult decisions to modernise services for older people and give them what they tell us they want.

"We are seeing physical improvements as well as changes in the way we provide services in our drive to ensure people can live independently."