WITH only five weeks to go until the switchover which will affect West Devon, the borough Council is urging residents to help someone else to switch to digital.

The council is backing the Switchover Help Scheme's 'Pass it On' campaign, to make sure every eligible older and disabled person in the area knows about the help they can get to keep their television working when switchover starts on July 1.

The Huntshaw Cross transmitter group, mostly serving North Devon, will begin to switch to digital on July 1, followed by the Caradon Hill transmitter group, mostly covering Plymouth, parts of Devon and East Cornwall on the August 12.

In the lead up to switchover, the BBC-run Switchover Help Scheme is offering practical help to eligible older and disabled people to make the change to digital on one of their television sets. Eligible people have been posted a Help Scheme information pack and will be getting a reminder letter.

Claire Wager, an outreach worker with the council, said: 'We are happy to support the 'pass it on' message as we all have a part to play to ensure everyone understands the help that is out there to make the switchover very easy.'

Claire and local Help Scheme representative Helena Giles are staging various events around the community to help spread the message, which included a visit to the Hope Cottage Community Café in Bere Alston recently. The Help Scheme offers each eligible household help to switch one television set to digital, including equipment, installation and an aerial check and upgrade if necessary. They also get a demonstration of how the equipment works and aftercare. 

People are eligible for help from the Switchover Help Scheme if they are: aged 75 or over; have lived in a care home for six months or more; get or could get, disability living allowance; attendance or constant attendance allowance, or mobility supplement; or if they are registered blind or partially sighted. Most people will be asked to contribute £40 towards the help.  The service is free for people who are eligible and also get pension credit, income support or income-based jobseekers allowance.

For more information visit helpscheme.co.uk