COUNCILLORS have voted to merge one of their services with another authority's in an attempt to improve care for the elderly.

Members of Wear Valley District Council's housing services committee have voted in favour of merging its homeline service with Sedgefield Borough Council's Carelink service.

The idea was discussed at a meeting of the committee this week and will go out to public consultation before a final decision is made.

Michael Laing, director of housing services at Wear Valley District Council, said that the proposals could save £60,000 a year which would be invested in equipment.

He said: "This is not about getting rid of the service. We are talking to Sedgefield Borough about merging our control centres.

"Both centres are working at half capacity at the moment and by merging the call centres it will release money for us to invest in the service to update the equipment."

Both services provide warden help for elderly people living alone.

Pensioners can make a call or push an emergency button if they need help. Once calls are received a mobile warden is alerted and goes to the aid of the person in distress.

Those who use the service have been assured that they will not notice a difference in the service that they are already receiving.

Staff and people living in the area who use the service will get the chance to have their say during a three-month consultation exercise before a final decision is made.

Mr Laing said: "We will not make a decision before talking to staff and customers first. The mobile wardens will still be based in Wear Valley, the only difference will be the call would go to Chilton. There will be no job losses."

A spokesperson for Sedgefield Borough Council said that the plans were still in the early stages.

He said: "Once negotiations are completed it would mean that the monitoring of the service for Wear Valley clients would be transferred from the Crook Homeline Service to the Carelink control room at Chilton. However, negotiations are still taking place.