A GRANDFATHER has praised the work of a charity's befriending service since the passing of his partner.

David King, 78 and from Witham, had cared for his beloved Norma Stanfield for three years after she became wheelchair bound, before a breast cancer diagnosis led to her passing earlier this year.

Mr King, who is a father of two daughters and has three grandchildren, said: "I used to be able to take her to town in her wheelchair and do the shopping but eventually I couldn’t get her in the car on my own.

"Then her leg seized up in one position which prevented her from getting dressed, so towards the end we had two carers visiting four times a day.

"After she died it was very quiet and lonely."

Essex County Council has now pledged more than £200,000 in grants to improve the befriending services like the one which provides a lifeline to Mr King.

He said: "Sue, a befriending volunteer at Action For Family Carers, calls me once a fortnight and we have a chat for about 20 minutes.

“She’s very nice and it’s lovely that they phone me up to see how I’m coping.

“I’m always pleased to hear her voice and I’m sure if there was something I needed they would do their best to help me.

“I’m very comfortable talking to her because I think she is very understanding.”

Grants have between awarded to several charities and soon more than 2,000 residents will be able to rely on the help of the befriending service across the county - an increase from 500 under the current scheme.

Traditional telephone calls and home visits will continue, but the service will now be more tailor-made with providers offering a larger network of support to help combat isolation.

For the first time, sensory support will be provided to elderly people who may have become increasingly isolated due to hearing or sight loss.

Anne Brown, cabinet member responsible for corporate, communities and customers, said: “We are delighted to not only continue supporting people who are isolated, lonely and vulnerable with this funding pledge, but to drastically improve the service so it reaches an extra 1,500 people, including 100-plus residents on the current waiting list for help.

“We want to support and empower the county’s older people to remain independent for as long as possible.

"We’re delighted to get this funding back into communities which is a priority for us.”