THE closure of a lunch club in Chagford means that older people will no longer have somewhere to meet, after eleven years of friendship and meals together.

The club, which is run by Age Concern, met for the last time on Monday (February 23).

Age Concern chief officer for Okehampton and Torridge, Barrie Duke, said this was the first lunch club Age Concern had ever had to close without knowing whether it could continue in some other way.

Mr Duke said: 'Rising transport costs and hiring fees have meant that Age Concern can no longer sustain this centre with the income we currently raise in Chagford.'

For the last year, numbers attending the centre in Cranley Gardens have been falling and the costs have risen, so that is has become difficult to raise financial support and maintain sufficient volunteers. Three years ago Devon County Council withdrew all support funding from five of the six centres run by Age Concern in West Devon.

Mr Duke said: 'Closures like this have a negative effect on older people and there is a lot of research to show that people who become trapped in their own homes can deteriorate in health and general well-being.

'It is all very well caring for people in their own homes, but if they are not allowed or able to get out it is almost like a prison sentence.

'The current policy that prevents Social Services helping until someone's life is in danger needs amending. If only the planners had the courage to put some money into helping people stay well when they are frail and elderly, there would be a lot less problems all round as well as less demands on care budgets.'

Chagford centre organiser Karen Rouse, who has run the operation for the last two years, has recently found it difficult to prepare lunches, as she did not know who was going to turn up for a meal.

However, everyone who went to Cranley Gardens praised the meals and the comfort of the centre, as well as the care given by the volunteers.

Those attending were taken in from the Chagford area by voluntary car drivers and met for a few hours for some company and contact.