An Alsager ward councillor has called on Cheshire East to change their pendant alarm contract as a "matter of urgency" to ensure vulnerable people are not left without the life-saving pager overnight.

Pendant alarms are worn by vulnerable people to press in an emergency and have been used for many years and have saved "countless lives".

The lifeline alarm pendant that comes alongside the base unit is a small and discreet wearable button, which is easy to press in case of an emergency. It can be worn a number of ways, either round the neck, wrist or even attached to your belt.

However, in view of a recent case in Alsager when a pendant "failed" late in an afternoon and due to Cheshire East's terms of the contract with the company concerned, the pendant alarm could not be repaired or replaced until the following day.

Speaking at last Tuesday's Cheshire East Cabinet meeting, Alsager ward councillor Rod Fletcher, said: "This placed a vulnerable person at risk during the night."

The leader of the Liberal Democrats requested that Cheshire East as a "matter of urgency" modified the current contract to provide cover 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for engineers to repair defected pendants, which according to Cllr Fletcher other councils do with the firm.

Cllr Fletcher added: "This will ensure vulnerable people are not in the future left overnight without a usable pager [pendant]."

Cllr Laura Jeuda, Cheshire East's portfolio holder for adult social care and health, has passed on Cllr Fletcher's concerns to the borough's director of commissioning, Nichola Thompson.

Cllr Jeuda said: "I absolutely agree with you, I do not think we can have a situation like that, it is not a satisfactory arrangement and I hope you will be hearing from the director of commissioning very soon."