SENIOR citizens are looking forward to more day trips and easier access to a day centre thanks to a new specially adapted minibus.

Every week over 100 elderly people visit Helen McArdle Care's Westerleigh Day Centre in Stanley. Due to increasing demand, Helen McArdle Care has bought another wheelchair-friendly minibus.

Former miner Fred Clark, 86, of Chester-le-Street, who visits the day centre in Scott Street three days a week said: "I really look forward to coming to the centre and particularly enjoy the music because I've just started playing my mouth organ again. I also enjoy the armchair aerobics."

Day centre manager Pauline Dargue said: "Many of our visitors have trouble getting out of the house so it's great that we can pick them up in the morning and drop them off in the afternoon or early evening when they are ready to go home.

"Some people come every day, seven-days-a-week and others just prefer to come a couple of days, perhaps on a weekend, just to catch up with friends.

"We are very flexible and the extra minibus will help us to be even more accommodating to everyone's needs."

The minibus pick-up and drop-off service caters for people as far afield as Moorside and Chester-le-Street.

For details call Pauline Dargue on (01207) 280431.