RETIRED couple Dot and Tom Armstrong are helping lead the fight against one of the major causes of injury among the elderly.

Every year, more than 1,500 people aged 65 or over are killed in falls in their home and more are seriously hurt.

The cost to the NHS of falls among the over 60s amounts to £981m every year, while hip fractures result in an annual cost of £1.7bn.

But at a special "bungalow bash" yesterday the Armstrongs led a new initiative to prevent falls, with the help of their local primary care trust.

They set up a marquee on the green in their home village of Great Ouseburn, near Boroughbridge, to ask older people what help they needed and give advice on a range of health-related subjects.

"I know myself that as an older person it's hard to ask for help. You feel it's like showing a weakness," said Mrs Armstrong, 64.

"I hope this event will do its bit in helping people get over this and realise that, by voicing their opinions and asking for help, they are championing a cause."

She and Mr Armstrong, 62, spent months setting up the event, the last two with the help of the PCT's falls co-ordinator Lorraine Eastwood.

The trust's chief executive, Penny Jones, said: "Dot and Tom are an inspiration to us all. So much thought and time has gone into planning the event with Lorraine."