A new scheme was rolled out to Ormiston residents last weekend, with the help of county MP George Kerevan.

The Helping Hands scheme has been organised by Ormiston West Tenants and Residents Association (OWTRA), and is designed to allow older members of the community to access help, should they need it.

The idea is that they will place a hand image in their window to indicate they need some help, and on the reverse is relevant contact information, with emergency services and doctors among those listed.

Mark Ormiston, OWTRA chairman, told the Courier: “So far we’ve got about six or seven houses that will try it and we’ll see how it goes.

“The committee and myself will check the houses for the hand every few day, and we’ll knock on the doors every week or so to check all is well.” And last Friday, new East Lothian MP George Kerevan was in Ormiston to lend a hand at the launch of the scheme.

It follows a similar idea in Dunbar, organised by Wingate Tenants and Residents Association, and praised by Mr Ormiston.

Mr Ormiston, who is also chairman of East Lothian Tenants and Residents Panel (ELTRP), added: “It has worked in Dunbar so far, so we’ll see how it goes in Ormiston.”