A SERVICE which helps elderly and vulnerable people to stay in their own homes is to be extended.

The Supporting People Grant, funded by the Government and operated by Durham County Council, provides alarm schemes and warden services to help 13,000 people across the county continue to live in their own homes.

Since its launch in 2003, it has mostly been available to council or housing association tenants but it has now been announced that, from next April it will also be available to people in privately-owned homes and privately-rented property.

Councillor Clive Robson, the authority's cabinet member for adult and community services, said: "There are a lot of potential service users - people over 50 and not in good health - who do not have access to the services that are available to help them live independently in their own homes.

"Figures show that although 80 per cent of potential service users live in privately-owned or rented homes, they receive just one per cent of the Supporting People Grant, which funds the community alarm and warden support services throughout the county.

"Ninety-nine per cent of the grant is paid to council or housing association tenants.

"The review and re-tendering process will increase access to services, give us better value for money, guaranteed response times and better working between health, social care and warden services."

Durham County Council has just awarded new contracts for community alarm and warden services for older people and vulnerable groups across the county.

As a result, from April, Sedgefield Borough Council will provide services to Sedgefield, Wear Valley and Teesdale, with Durham City, Chester-le-Street, Derwentside and Easington councils delivering the service in their own areas.

The change means service users will have access to 24-hour community alarm monitoring and a professional support worker if necessary.

There will also be investment in upgrading alarm equipment across the county over the next three years,