ADVICE for older residents on how to avoid falls will be given in Ilkley this month.

Staying Steady has been organised by the Ilkley and District Good Neighbours project, Moving On, to share some simple tips on how to keep your balance.

Steven Pugh from the Falls Prevention Exercise unit at Bradford District Care Foundation Trust will lead the event at the Clarke Foley Centre on Cunliffe Road, Ilkley, on Thursday, August 16.

The session runs from 10.30am to noon and Ilkley and District Good Neighbours Trustee Anita Dunford hopes lots of residents will attend.

She said: "As people get older it can be more difficult to remain steady.

"These easy measures to learn, whether you’re fit and active or have difficulty getting around, will hopefully help you avoid falls.

"Falls and fractures in older people can, as we know, change their lives enormously.

"By arranging this session with Stephen we hope it might people's health, wellbeing and independence."

"We welcome anyone who feels they, or an older relative, might benefit from hearing how they can avoid an accidental fall, so do please come along."

According to government figures about a third of over-65s - and half of people aged 80 and over - fall at least once a year.

The statistics also show that about 20 per cent of hip fracture patients enter long-term care in the first year after a fall, which costs the Government an estimated £2 billion in medical and social care.