OLDER people from across the region gathered yesterday as part of an ongoing programme to improve services and organisations for people in later life.

The Better Government for Older People (BGOP) programme is a partnership between central and local government, the voluntary sector and academic world and older people themselves.

Delegates from across the North-East and Yorkshire, even into Humberside, gathered at Darlington Arts Centre for a conference to have their say on issues affecting them.

One of the aims, they said, was to make things better for older people in the future.

Similar conferences have been held in various parts of the country, led by Martin Shreeve, director of BGOP.

Bill Cook, chairman of the Firth Moor Partnership in Darlington, was a delegate.

He said: "We are trying to look at how we can work as one body and, around the country, we are trying to set up a network of older people.

"It is very important. It is only this last four years that, for me, a Government has taken an interest in this and I feel that this is a right step to take."

Mr Cook said the numbers of older people in the country was growing, and would continue to do so in the coming years, making this a vital programme.

Vera Bolter, a Newcastle branch member of the National Older People's Advisory Group, said: "I think it is extremely important that older people are beginning to get together and work together, not just to make their views known, but also to show that they do have a helpful role in developing services."

Pat McWeeny, a member of the York branch, said: "We've got a product to sell - our experience."