A PLAN to improve the lives of older residents of Darlington has been unveiled.

The older people's strategy aims to establish a long-term vision for the over-50s in the town who, by 2017, will make up more than 40 per cent of Darlington's population, according to estimates.

It is hoped the strategy will help fulfil the needs of Darlington's older population.

The draft version of the strategy was put together by Growing Old Living in Darlington (Gold), which consulted a cross-section of the community.

The strategy outlines six priorities for improvement, valuing older people, improving access, improving health and well-being, safe environments, economic stability and life-long learning.

Members of Darlington Borough Council's social affairs and health scrutiny committee welcomed the strategy, but said that more work was needed to ensure it was fully inclusive of all older people.

Darlington Mayor Marion Swift, who chaired the meeting of the scrutiny committee, said: "It's a good report, but it needs tweaking and we will have the chance to do that before our next meeting in August."

Councillor Eric Roberts, who represents the Heighington and Coniscliffe ward, said the strategy must include older people living in rural areas. He said: "I just don't want it to be forgotten that as you get older, in some areas there are no facilities.

"Places like Middleton St George and Heighington may have community centres and shops, but not everywhere has. It must be remembered that there are older people who don't live in towns."

Stephen Yeardley, project coordinator at Gold, said the report was a work in progress, but it was feasible that the strategy would be improved and in place by the end of the year.

He said: "The strategy brings together all the key stakeholders in the town, such as the council, the health services and public transport, for the benefit of all the older people.

"We have involved older people from the start, and it is from that consultation that we know where the strategy needs to go."