NOT everyone was sitting with their feet up on Christmas Day.

At 6.30am, members of Middlesbrough Council's Carelink team reported for duty just like any other day.

Linda Burrell is one of the workers who provides a lifeline for elderly and disabled people living in housing association and private homes across the town.

She said: "One year I took more than 20 calls. Of course, every one has to be responded to and the home of the person who made it is visited to make sure everything is all right.

"It could be that someone has simply taken off the pendant which activates the system when they've gone out to their family, But then again, it could be someone is on their own, in serious difficulty and needing a doctor."

Linda and her colleagues, four of whom were on duty on Christmas Day, work closely with staff at Parklands, the intermediate care centre set up by the council and Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust.

The 21-bed centre plays a vital role in preventing bed-blocking by providing respite care, and a range of rehabilitation and support services, both on site and in people's homes.

Lesley Moody, one of three Rapid Response team members who was on duty, was busily juggling work commitments with Christmas celebrations for her family - including a three-year-old son.

Mrs Moody helped to make sure that people who have left hospital or Parklands to go home had a safe Christmas.

She helped to provide personal care as well as helping with meal preparation and other daily tasks.