A CRUCIAL support service for elderly people in the Darlington borough is going from strength to strength - and more residents are being urged to take advantage.

A record number of people who live alone are now members of the borough council's Lifeline service.

About 2,600 elderly people have signed up to the scheme, which allows them to live independently while having access to a 24-hour alarm system in case they become ill or have an accident in the home.

Darlington Borough Council announced at the weekend that the uptake for the Lifeline telephone link -which is available to people who live in owner-occupied homes -has increased by more than 50 per cent in the past two years.

More than 600 people are now linked to the system, which works from a telephone or from an electronic pendant worn by the client.

In the event of an emergency, a signal can be sent by the telephone or pendant to the council's control room and a mobile warden will respond to the call.

In addition, 1,700 people who live in council-run sheltered accommodation have had lifeline pullcords installed in their homes to use to alert wardens if needed.

Councillor Paul Baldwin, the authority's cabinet member for housing, said: "We understand that elderly people in Darlington are increasingly choosing to live independently. Lifeline allows them to do this and have peace of mind, knowing that someone is at hand at any time, day or night, if there is an emergency."

There are 21,000 people of pensionable age in Darlington, and 900 live in council warden-controlled homes.

A further 900 live in council accommodation with alarms connected to the 24-hour emergency mobile warden service. More than 600 are linked to the Lifeline scheme.

About 200,000 calls are made each year to the council's control room.

Anyone living alone who is not in council warden-controlled accommodation, or in council accommodation covered by the service, can apply for the Lifeline service for £3.25 per week.

For details contact (01325) 388508.