Free Cannock elderly services to be extended

A free grass-cutting and home decorating service is set to be extended to hundreds more elderly and disabled tenants in a Staffordshire town.

The district authority for Cannock plans to lower the age of qualification by 10 years to 70, and include people living in any type of council property, including houses and upper-floor flats.

The scheme is currently only available to people aged 80 or over living in a bungalow or ground-floor flats. The relaxation of the rules has been proposed by the new Labour administration.

They believe the current policy that took effect last March, is unfair.

Around 650 more residents will be able to take advantage of the scheme but the council intends to cap the overall number at 1,300.