MANY hundreds of elderly people are struggling along in unsuitable homes, unable to find or afford a better alternative.

Astonishingly, a great majority of local authorities do not have any proper housing strategy for the elderly. These include Burnley, Pendle and Ribble Valley.

Our survey of all councils in Britain reveals that fewer than one in 10 has properly addressed this crucial issue.

This is not the way to treat the fastest-growing and potentially most vulnerable sector of the population, especially when 3,500 care home beds have disappeared in the last three years.

Government guidelines and a number of housing agencies, have long been urging local authorities to make proper provision for the elderly, clearly without much effect. Now a new opportunity for them to grasp the nettle, with the formation of the Housing and Older People Development Group under the wing of the Deputy Prime Minister, promoting, advising and measuring improvements in the supply of housing for elderly people.

Even those local authorities with a formal strategy seem preoccupied with public-sector housing issues, despite the fact that a majority of older people are homeowners in need of more appropriate housing.

The development group is encouraging all kinds of housing choices, including 'stay put and adapt,' sheltered housing, retirement housing, lifetime homes, assisted living accommodation, residential homes and care homes.

The current crisis over lack of affordable housing for younger people was brought on by the failure of successive governments to see the problem coming and take steps to avoid it. We must not let the same happen to the ageing population.

As the country's largest provider of sheltered housing for older owner-occupiers we are pleased to be represented on this new group. I urge any local authorities who need to catch up, to take advantage of the initiative.

We must wake up before this demographic time-bomb explodes.

KEITH LOVELOCK, Chief Executive, McCarley and Stone plc, Hartington Road, Broadheath, Altrincham, Cheshire.