A CAMPAIGN group to restore home help services to older people has notched up its first success.

An 80-year-old woman from Loveclough, Rossendale, who lost her home help as a result of Lancashire County Council's social services cutbacks, was reassessed and now has her helper back.

Organiser of CROPS - the Campaign for the Restoration of Older People's Services - Susan Troughton said: "We are delighted and this lady will only be the first of many." Susan, from Rossendale, led a party of pensioners from East Lancashire on a trip to Parliament to protest about the cuts last year.

She said: "We have set up a network of care line numbers so that anyone who wants to have their needs reviewed can get help to do so, but we are getting so many calls we really need help in sponsoring leaflets.

"We need to get it across to people who have had their home helps and other services cut that they can apply again.

"We can help them to organise being reassessed and give out advice and make them aware of their rights. For example a lot of older people don't realise they are entitled to have someone with them when they are being assessed."

If anyone wants help or can sponsor the group they can contact Susan on 01706 215356, Julie Lewer on 01706 228598 or Noel O'Brien on 01706 214179.

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