A SCHEME to encourage older people to become involved in the running of their communities has won national acclaim.

The Growing Older in Darlington initiative encourages people to have a say in the way services are provided.

It aims to ensure that older people are not discriminated against in everyday life, have a long and healthy retirement, and get what they want from health and other services.

The regional lead officer for the Department of Health, Jean Tottie, has praised the initiative and is promoting it as a model of good practice across the North-East.

She said: "It is good to see that is has been tackled from a citizen's point of view rather than simply looking at the service people may require."

Darlington Primary Care Trust and Darlington Social Services Department have recruited additional staff to help get the initiative off the ground.