PENSIONER Rose Chappell has told how an emergency alarm worn around her neck may have saved her life.

The 87-year-old suffered a freak accident when she fell at home and trapped her arm in a draw handle.

After pressing her emergency pendant button, Coast and Country warden Carol West arrived on the scene and alerted paramedics. Mrs Chappell, of Redcar, was then rushed to hospital.

Coast and Country's 24-hour Homecall service was set up to help local residents in emergencies.

Subscribers can contact a response centre, which will provide advice and assistance on a range of issues. In the case of emergencies, the resident can push an alarm pendant, worn around the neck, to alert a Coast and Country warden.

The warden will go the resident's home and arrange assistance with the response centre.

Mrs Chappell said: "It's not stretching the truth to say that Homecall saved my life. I dread to think what might have happened if the warden hadn't arrived, as I live on my own.

"I was beginning to feel increasingly faint and dizzy when I was ironing at home. I may well have lost consciousness completely had I not received treatment so soon from the paramedics.

"I am so glad that I signed up to this service and I'd like to give particular thanks to Carol, who did so much to help me in what was a very unpleasant situation."

Warden Carol said: "I am so relieved that Rose has made a full recovery and her story shows that our Homecall service is working."