A DIRECTORY of services for pensioners in Chester-le-Street and Durham has been published.

It is a simple guide containing details of all the services that older people in the area may need.

It has been produced and funded by the Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust, Duram County Age Concern, Durham County Council, Durham City Council and Chester-le-Street Council, working with a group of local older people.

The directory is part of the trust's drive to improve services for senior citizens.

Denise Elliott, the trust's project co-ordinator for integration and immediate care, said: "A lot of older people have a range of needs which sometimes require the support of many different organisations. This new directory will enable them to easily access all of these important services that are available to them, whether it be warden schemes, chiropody or equipment to help with their independent living.

"The PCT and their partners felt there were a number of measures that could be introduced as part of improving the current provision of older people services across the area.

"Establishing the directory takes us one more step toward achieving these services.

"The aim of the directory is to help strengthen communications between organisations and the elderly who live alone.

"This directory will help to enable older people to live more independently by giving them access to the important services that are available to them more easily."

Bill Underwood, of Newton Hall, who helped to produce the directory, said: "It has taken a while for the directory to be produced but I am very happy with the way it has turned out.

"I hope the senior citizens in our community will find it extremely useful and use it to their advantage."

Copies of the directory are available from the Durham branch of Age Concern in Atherton Street.