A RECORD number of elderly people living alone in Darlington have joined a potentially life-saving scheme during the last year.

More than 160 people joined Darlington Borough Council's Lifeline service during the past 12 months.

The scheme allows people to live independently while having access to a 24-hour alarm system should they become ill or have an accident at home.

More than 750 people in the town are now linked to the system which works from a telephone, or from an electronic pendant worn by the client.

It sends a signal to the council's control room in the event of an emergency.

A mobile warden will respond to the call.

Lifeline costs £3.25 a week and is available to anyone living alone who is not already living in council warden-controlled accommodation, or council accommodation covered by the emergency response warden service.

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

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

Another 900 live in council accommodation with alarms connected to the 24-hour emergency mobile warden service, and 750 are linked to Lifeline.

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

A council spokesman said the scheme was going from strength to strength.

He said: "In Darlington, the number of people of pension age is increasing year on year.

"The council is dedicated to ensuring the safety, health and peace of mind of all the people who live in the town, particularly those who may be vulnerable.

"The Lifeline service provides that peace of mind, not only for those using it, for their family and friends as well."

For details about Lifeline, contact the council warden service on (01325) 388550.