MOBILE mercymen will soon be operating a special security service for pensioners in the Ribble Valley.

A new initiative from the Help the Aged organisation got on the road today, with the aim of targeting more than 1,000 senior citizens in the next two years.

The charity's new HandyVan scheme provides free, practical help to older people in the Ribble Valley who, after being referred by a local agency, will be visited by a specially trained fitter driving one of the HandyVans.

Each home will be fitted with spyholes or other security devices to give older people more peace of mind about their own safety. The project is backed by Littlewoods Lotteries, with an expected income of £3.5m from lottery scratchcards.

The HandyVan scheme will start by operating in 11 counties, including Lancashire, and will expand to cover more areas over the next few yeas. In that time, Help the Aged aims to fit 20,000 homes nationally with security devices.

Director General of Help the Aged John Mayo, said: "The evidence in clear that older people want to live at home for as long as possible but often need extra help.

"Our HandyVan scheme is a very practical way of helping senior citizens live independently.

"Our fitters and their HandyVans will provide older people with a trustworthy service and peace of mind."

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