The Commission for Rural Communities has warned that council services must be ‘rural proofed' to stop elderly people from becoming isolated.

In a report published this week, the commission said more ‘creative thinking' would be needed to ensure that council services for older people are retained in rural areas. ‘The Government has stated a commitment to ensuring that issues of fairness for people in rural areas accessing individual services are taken into account when developing policy,' said commission chairman, Dr Stuart Burgess.