A FREEMASON has helped to develop a system to help vulnerable and older people get assitance and support when they need it.

Arthur Skingsley, from Sinderhope, is part of the Masonic Meals on Wheels service and every Sunday he volunteers his time to distribute lunches to pensioners and widows of Northumberland freemasons.

After talking to several widows, he realised that many of them didn't have any family living locally that they could call if they needed help for things that might happen in their homes, such as blown fuses or leaking taps.

After involving all the masonic lodges in Hexham, Arthur came up with a single contact post card that residents keep near their phone in case help is needed.

The card gives the telephone number of Arthur and his friend Norman Wicks, who have already been called out voluntarily to help two pensioners.

Norman helped a woman with a broken garage door, and Arthur has fitted a loud doorbell in a woman's home who suffers from dementia and couldn't hear the door knocks because her TV was turned up so loud.

Arthur said: "The cards are there to give reassurance that help is only a phone call away.

"Of course, we aren't trying to be an emergency service and we always explain that, but for things that many of us would take for granted, we many be able to help or know someone who can.

"We hope to expand this scheme to more people in Hexham once our freemasons meetings start again after Covid-19."