A ‘lifeline’ telephone service for vulnerable pensioners in Wolverhampton that has been free for six years is to start charging for its use.

Bosses at the Senior Citizen Linkline say the weekly fees of £4.99 are vital in order for the organisation to survive.

Volunteers at the 24-hour Bilston-based charity call lonely pensioners once a week for a chat and help organise transport to hospitals and other difficult tasks.

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A ‘lifeline’ telephone service for vulnerable pensioners in Wolverhampton that has been free for six years is to start charging for its use.

Bosses at the Senior Citizen Linkline say the weekly fees of £4.99 are vital in order for the organisation to survive.

Volunteers at the 24-hour Bilston-based charity call lonely pensioners once a week for a chat and help organise transport to hospitals and other difficult tasks.

It has always relied on grants but since its conception in 2001 it has grown hugely in popularity and now caters for 2,000 people across the city and has a waiting list for people desperate for its services.

Rev Chris Thorpe of St Leonard’s Church, where the Linkline is based, said the service was struggling to cope with demand.

He said: “We started off with a few small grants and a handful of people. “Then in 2002 the Big Lottery Fund gave us £312,000 over three years to increase membership to 1,000. But the Linkline was so popular that we actually grew to 1,500. We are now in a situation where we are struggling to manage those numbers.”

Chief executive of the Linkline Ann Reaney said: “We have helped a lot of people over the years but now we have 2,000 people and a big waiting list of those who want our services. We want to be able to provide a good service for people for generations to come and that is why we are having to introduce these charges.”

When the service celebrated its fifth birthday last year, church leaders said it had single-handedly safeguarded the future of 12th century St Leonard’s.

When it snowed volunteers delivered shopping to elderly residents, they have replaced lightbulbs and when bogus callers were thought to be operating in the area they alerted local pensioners.

On Christmas Day 2005, 15 pensioners who had been forgotten by their families called the helpline. Just an hour later they were delivered a hot Christmas dinner.

Bilston East councillor Louise Miles said the council, which has never funded the Linkline, was looking at ways in which it could help.

She said: “The council are trying to resolve some of issues because it is valuable service for people in the city.”