LUDLOW's senior residents have received a ticking off for failing to support the more frail and less well off.

Shropshire Senior Citizens Forum officer Olly Rose has called for older folk who are comfortable with their lot to come out of the woodwork, join the forum and fight for others.

He has warned that unless a few more people come forward, Ludlow will be the only area in the county without a forum.

He said: "Basically for over a year now we have been struggling to set up a group in Ludlow with a steering group putting in a lot of effort but with limited success."

Forums are gaining strength in other places like Oswes-try, Shrewsbury, Ellesmere and recently Bridgnorth but he said Ludlow was lacking.

Mr Rose continued: "Other groups have grown much faster while in Ludlow there has been rather a feeling among those that attend that 'we are alright' so there is a reluctance to work on behalf of those who are more frail or less well off."

He said the Ludlow Forum lacked a treasurer so there was no-one to look after the expenses of producing a newsletter.

"Without a few more people to come forward and strengthen this committee, the group will fold leaving this area of the county without a vehicle for consulting on a range of issues with older people."

The explained the forums are consulted by a number of organisations like local and health authorities when developing services and changing policy.