MONITORING equipment being piloted in County Durham has led to a 93-year-old woman's rescue.

The frail pensioner, from Sedgefield, fell out of bed in the early hours, but was promptly attended to after care staff were alerted by her "Brenda" bed sensor.

The system is among a range of equipment being piloted by Durham County Council's People at Home and in Touch project, a partnership with district councils and health workers.

It prevented a repeat of an earlier incident, in which the pensioner was left on a cold floor for six hours before being found by her carer.

Pam Mills, the council's project officer, said: "By the time the carer arrived, she was suffering from hypothermia and had to be admitted to hospital.

"The sensor meant staff were able to react much more quickly to the second fall."

The device fits under the foot of the bed and registers when the person has got out. If they have not returned within a pre-set time, an alarm is activated and care workers are automatically alerted.

Ms Mills said: "Falls are one of the biggest causes of death in older people. Anything that can automatically flag up falls can help reduce the consequences of the 'long lie', which can often result in hypothermia or pneumonia in older people."

The bed sensor is a prototype which should become commercially available next year. Other devices being piloted as part of the project are fall detectors, heat sensors, flood sensors, bath sensors and automatic bedside lights.

Ms Mills said: "These new sensors can give people peace of mind knowing that help will be at hand without the need for them to press a button."