BIG-hearted mum Sandra Almond has pledged to come to the aid of disabled war veteran Thomas Bywater...by offering her cleaning services for free.

Former desert rat Mr Bywater, 81, was being forced to give up his home help support after the weekly cost more than trebled.

Widower Mr Bywater, of Oriel Close, Blackburn, paid £3.45 for twice-weekly visits by home helps who would bathe him and clean his home. But after the cost rose to £17 a week, Mr Bywater could no longer afford to pay.

After reading his plight in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, mum-of-one Sandra, a part-time domestic assistant at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, has offered her cleaning services for free.

A second Blackburn couple, who wished to remain anonymous, have also offered Mr Bywater financial help.

Sandra, 39, said: "I'll help anybody who needs it, that's the kind of person that I am.

"I see a lot of elderly people through work and know they get a rough time with old people's homes closing and such like. You see some people who get help for everything and then people like Mr Bywater, who fought for his country. It's absolutely disgusting.

"He's worked his whole life and has paid into the system. It's a shame he has to give everything up to get something from the government.

"Mr Bywater is a poorly man with no one he can rely on. I'm happy to do his cleaning one afternoon a week, or more if he needs, and to pop to the shops for him and I am happy to carry on as long as he needs my help.

"I want to show him there are people out there who care."

Mr Bywater said: "I'm grateful for everybody's concern and for showing an interest in my problems."

Coun Sue Reid, executive member for Blackburn with Darwen social services department, said: "The Government's Fairer Charging guidance means social services must review its charges for services assisting people to live independently.

"We have worked together with a number of user groups to help us decide upon the best way forward. As a result, our own research shows that up to half of the people currently receiving services will be paying less.

"Also people whose income is less than the level of Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance (income based) plus 25 per cent will not be charged at all.

"A person's main home is not taken into consideration when calculating charges for care to help people remain independent in their own homes.

"Once income has been worked out, the cost of other bills deducted, the council works out the charge from half of what is left.

"In addition this council is unique in setting a capped rate of £15 which will ensure that regardless of income, no one will pay an increase of more than this amount.

"It has to be acknowledged that where individuals are eligible for a service and do have the finances or means to contribute to the cost of their care, it is only reasonable that we make a charge."