THE Yeovil Express has once again joined forces with the South Somerset Careline organisation which supports vulnerable people and saves lives in the community.

And now the Express is offering people the chance to have a one-month free trial of the Careline service to find out how good it actually is.

The Careline initiative, part of South Somerset District Council, has been in operation for more than 23 years. During that time the service has saved a large number of customers lives and changed, for the better, many others.

It provides a round-the-clock emergency call response and monitoring service that can safeguard and reassure the elderly and other vulnerable people in their own homes.

Careline manager Keith Day said: "Our service allows them to live independent lives and confident in the knowledge that, if required, immediate assistance can be summoned at the press of a button.

"Careline will provide a person with a state-of-the-art arlarm system that is easily fitted somewhere in the home. They will also have a pendant that they can wear around their neck or on their wrist. All people need is a BT socket and a nearby 13amp electrical socket."

Mr Day said an example was of one lady who had been using the service since 1989 and had told him she was convinced Careline had saved her life on at least four occasions.

"To existing customers the service is literally a life saver, but most people are not aware of the role it pays in helping the elderly and disabled of any age to continue to live independent and fulfilling lives in their own homes and surrounded by the things they know and love," he said.

"They and their families are safe in the knowledge that help is at hand, at the touch of a button, for 24 hours a day every day."

So confident is Careline in the quality and effectiveness of the service it is offering a one-month free trial to the first 50 Express readers that either write to Steve Sowden at the Yeovil Express, 46 Princes Street, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1EQ or email stephen.sowden@yeovilexpress.co.uk requesting the offer.