AGE Concern is coming back to Okehampton — after an absence of almost five months.

The Information Centre has a new home in Crediton Road and is expected to be fully operational by August. West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett has been asked to open it.

The Rev Barrie Duke, Okehampton Age Concern chief officer, said he was delighted that so many people had expressed their hope the services should return.

He said the facility was stopped after cuts in Devon County Council grants to the voluntary sector had deprived so many of vital support.

Mr Duke said the centre will be the focus for day break services, factsheets, information and advice.

He said there will also be computer training and 'some new approaches to making life a little more enjoyable for older people.'

'We will be able to run a drop-in centre and hope that local people will not only tell us what they need but also get involved in making the centre the focus for new ideas.'

Okehampton Age Concern has linked with the Tarka Foundation in a back-to-business project designed to help local businesses affected by the foot and mouth crisis.

'We will offer a confidential check of their organisation and will be recruiting older people with past or current business experience to work as volunteers and share their knowledge.'

Mr Duke said they would also be promoting the work of Prime — an organisation that brings financial assistance to older people wanting to start a business of their own.

Okehampton Age Concern has not received any income since Devon County Council withdrew its support in March. The new venture will rely solely on income from the local area. Anyone who would like to help the centre get back on its feet should contact Barrie Duke on (01837) 53409.

'It is a fresh start. It will help us to do new things for older people,' he said.

'Money will always follow good ideas. We started with nothing ten years ago and got a lot going.

'For many older people it felt that the heart had been taken out of the community.

'Age Concern has been somewhere you know that you can get some sort of help. And if that goes people feel cut off and adrift,' he said.