ELDERLY and vulnerable members of the community will feel safer when they are out and about -- thanks to a major personal safety scheme launched this week.

Chorley Neighbourhood Watch is to provide more than 400 personal alarms to anyone who needs them.

With the help of funding from the Chorley and District Building Society, the neighbourhood watch has begun distributing the alarms and the scheme has already proved so popular that it may be extended.

Police community beat managers, neighbourhood wardens and Victim Support volunteers are in charge of handing out the sleek silver alarms, which are the smallest and loudest on the market and have a handy built-in torch.

Chairman of Chorley Neighbourhood Watch, Keith Warren, explained: "At one of our regular meetings the issue of safety in the community was highlighted and the committee decided to try and do something to make people feel more secure when they are out and about.

"We are looking for other businesses to become involved so we can hopefully buy some more of the alarms as they have proved so popular already."

Stephen Bullock, chief executive of Chorley and District Building Society, handed over the first alarms.

He said: "We have been a sponsor of the neighbourhood watch ever since it started and are obviously concerned for the safety of our community.

"We were very happy to provide the cash for the alarms because the neighbourhood watch simply wouldn't have been able to run the scheme without it."

Pensioner Dorothy Langton was one of the first people to get an alarm. She said: "Hopefully I'll never have to use it, but I hope I'll feel a lot safer carrying it with me.

"It's certainly very loud!"

The alarms are available for vulnerable members of the community from community beat managers, neighbourhood wardens and from Chorley and District Building Society.