LOCAL meals on wheels teams delivered their last lunches on Friday.

The Cheshire WRVS service that has been supplying elderly and other housebound people for the past 50 years lost out when the Cheshire contract was put up for grabs last year.

The county council favoured private catering company Gardner Marchant even though the popular Volunteer Service claimed they could increase their five day cover to the seven days required.

The decision left the delivery volunteers disappointed and fearful that the new service might fall short on providing the friendship and caring concern they have been happy to serve up along with the food.

"The replacement service was scheduled to take over straight away at the weekend and we are hoping the new delivery teams will form the same kind of relationships that we have had with our elderly diners. We know that for some of them our visits brightened a lonely day. They knew they could rely on us to help with any problems if we could or to pass on information to someone who could," said Nantwich project leader, Burt Phillips.

"Let's hope the take-over goes smoothly. I understand there were a few teething problems on Monday with several elderly people getting anxious because their meals, normally delivered around 12pm, did not arrive until almost 2pm. But that may have been because the drivers did not know the area," he added.

Mrs Elizabeth Marsden, 92, of Nantwich, is amongst the WRVS service's fans hoping the new delivery teams will be as nice as the old.

She has valued the personal touch provided by the volunteers and claims it has made a difference to her day.

She has been having meals three times a week for more than ten years and will miss the friendly faces she had grown used to.

"I was really upset when I heard the news. They have all been very good with me and have helped me out when I needed them to put my chair in for me. They have always made sure I'm alright," she said.

She intends to continue using the service, but is concerned that the cost of dinners may rise from the £1.93 per day charged by the WRVS.

The change-over will leave a gap in the lives of the local volunteers. Some, like Burt Phillips, have been involved for around ten years.

Burt's community work already extends to organising trips and social events for the elderly in Nantwich. Now he is looking to channel his efforts into helping the local Dial-a-ride scheme, providing transport into town from the rural areas.

The North West WRVS intends to try and win back the Cheshire contract in three years time and is currently bidding to hang on to the one in neighbouring Staffordshire.

Council chiefs have claimed that the reasons for putting the services out to tender is to improve them and make them more consistent.

The local WRVS teams are getting together at Nantwich Civic Hall to mark the end of deliveries

Picture - Last WRVS delivery for 92 year old Mrs Elizabeth Marsden from Nantwich project leader Burt Phillips and volunteer Jill Robinson. Photo No SANT 8178/3.

BY BEYRL PATEMAN