NEW figures show that Worcestershire is ranked among the top 10 in the west Midlands for providing physiotherapy services to patients aged 65 and over.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), rel-eased the figures on the eve of its annual congress in Birmingham, which began on Friday, and ended yesterday.

In the west Midlands, Staffordshire came first, assisting 92 people out of every 1,000 of those aged 65 to live at home.

Out of 14 regions, Worcestershire came joint seventh, along with Birmingham, helping 81 out of every 1,000 people in the same age range, while Herefordshire came in at 12th.

Bottom of the league was Solihull, which helped 62 out of every 1,000.

The CSP is applauding councils such as Tower Hamlets in London, which provides 184 out of ever 1,000 people aged over 65 with practical help, but questions why councils, such as Poole, in Dorset, assists only 43 out of every 1,000.