Rhondda pensioners' special salt

Pensioners in the Rhondda are being given containers of special salt to make sure they can clear their paths and cut down on the numbers of older people who end up with broken bones and worse.

Tom Sheldrick reports.

"We want to stop people falling on black ice and become hospitalised" says David Lewis, chair of the Rhondda 50+ Forum.

"We want to give older people who are fearful of falling a little more confidence, to get out and about on cold days".

Pensioners in the Rhondda are being given containers of special salt to sprinkle over their paths and driveways during icy conditions.

The 'Shake The Salt' project, by the Rhondda 50+ forum and the Rhondda Rotary Club aims to make senior citizens feel less isolated as temperatures tumble.

The hope is to give out similar products for free to thousands of others who struggle to tackle steep paths and outdoor stairwells.

David Lewis, chairman of the Rhondda 50+ Forum said: "We know that not only do people slip on icy steps and break bones; the fear of slipping on icy paths keeps older people isolated at home during the winter."

So far, almost 200 containers of salt have been distributed to households.