AGE Concern urges older people to make full use of the new arrangements for postal and proxy voting. Voters can now get a postal vote for the General Election on demand at any time up to 5pm on Tuesday, May 29 -- by asking at the Elections Office at their local town hall, or by filling in and sending the official forms, which have been widely displayed in newspapers and on-line.

For older people who find it difficult or simply inconvenient to vote in person, the new postal voting arrangements should provide a safe and convenient way of voting.

Older voters are well advised to make their own applications for a postal vote rather than signing a form for someone else to complete. If they still wish to use a proxy rather than a postal vote, they should make sure that the named proxy is someone they personally know and trust.

GORDON LISHMAN, Director General, Age Concern England.