AGE Concern has announced big plans to improve its services for the elderly in Todmorden.

A major fund-raising scheme has been organised and plans are already in hand to provide some of the new services.

Chairman Ruth Goldthorpe, said the first aim was to raise the £90,000 needed to provide a development worker for Todmorden, with the aim of expanding the service provided for the town.

She said: "We have already been promised £30,000 over three years as a major charity donation, so we are now working towards raising the remainder for what we need and intend to apply for the grants which will help us, so we are quetly confident we can reach our target.

"Our aim is to provide a development worker and we will be drawing up a shortlist of candidates to interview at the end of the next month. We are hoping to have someone in post by the end of the month."

Mrs Goldthorpe, who revealed that the Age Concern committee was also looking for better town centre premises, added: "We want town centre premises because we want to be able to reach more people and be able to tell them about the services we offer and the information we can provide.

"Other towns already have these development workers, but having our own paid dedicated worker for 20 hours a week is a new and exciting venture for us and definitely a step in the right direction. It will also mean that we are able to open the office more frequently."