A health and well-being programme is to be piloted in Oswestry.

The Healthy Lives Programme and Resilient Communities, being led by Shropshire Council’s Community Enablement Team, will launch with three initiatives, including one which will see firefighters from Oswestry being asked to make more observations during their home visits and report any concerns.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service currently operates an initiative in which firefighters will visit homes to check for fire-safety issues and check fire alarms.

Throughout the pilot, they will also be asked to look for any concerns, such as signs of domestic violence, health and welfare.

The teams will also be working alongside Oswestry’s three GP surgeries as part of the pilot and other stakeholders.

Councillor Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for health, said: “Collaboration is the best way to prevention.

“We need to work together on this to help if someone is suffering from domestic violence, or even if they are suffering from the cold. I feel very passionately about this. We all need to work together.

“It is all taxpayers’ money and I am convinced this is the way forward. It is a not a quick fix. It is a long-term solution.”