INVERCLYDE Council on Disability has today been awarded a massive �450,000 grant by lottery chiefs.

The huge windfall will enable the group to help hundreds of older people with disabilities throughout the district.

The award will see the launch of a new service to support people so they can stay in their homes for longer while remaining in touch with friends and the wider community.

The 'Connected, Confident and Included Inverclyde' project will reach senior citizens to improve their ICT skills, providing training to keep them in contact through emails and other social media.

A Shopmobility service will also be provided to help with the weekly shop while regular social events will be arranged to bring people together and foster new friendships.

An outreach service will be set up to help those who are housebound.

Jim MacLeod, pictured, chairperson of ICOD, said: "We are absolutely delighted with this award from the Big Lottery Fund.

"This will enable us to start up new services which will also help us to reach out to even more disabled people and their families."