FURIOUS volunteers say they will renew their fight to save Newport's Meals on Wheels service and are appealing for public backing.

Almost a year after the council announced the service was to be axed before making a u-turn several months later, the service, which caters for 60 elderly people, is to be reviewed again with many fearing this is the beginning of the end.

Last February the city council announced it was to axe meals-on-wheels to save £114,000.

But the strength of feeling against such a move forced the local authority to change its decision and in June Newport council's older people's champion councillor Paul Cockeram was tasked with deciding the future of the service.

He says he needs to ensure that the money being spent on the current service is the most efficient use of resources and he is to look at possible alternatives such as a "coffee and chat" system.

But volunteers from the Women's Royal Volunteer Service-run scheme are determined to save it, saying vulnerable elderly people rely on their visits.

And a band of supporters will now lobby councillors. Newport council says no decision on the future of the service will be made until at least September following a review.

And Councillor Cockeram has given assurances that any review will be conducted in a "full and open manner".

Volunteer Maggie Matthews, 51, said: "We will not just lie down and give up - we've come too far for that to happen. Elderly people need their meals as well as a chat and help around the house.

"We need to save the service for them and we hope we get the public's support again."

Volunteer Paul Burns, 40, said: "We knew it would happen again because the numbers using the service have reduced so much."

Mr Burns said he was appalled that pensioners had to pay for their Christmas dinners this year - the first time in the service's 30-year history. "I felt dreadful taking money off pensioners on Christmas Day," he said. l What do you think? Write to The Editor, South Wales Argus, Cardiff Road, Maes -glas, Newport NP20 3QN, email letters@gwent-wales. co.uk or fax 01633 777202

THE FULL statement from Councillor Paul Cockeram said: Neither the Cabinet nor I have any intention to 'scrap' the Meals on Wheels service and the views I expressed were misrepresented in your headline feature.

"The revised service introduced following our Scrutiny review of options last summer has only been in operation since September, 2005. The Cabinet made it clear that we would review the operation of the service but I would not expect to be in a position to appraise the new service arrangements until they have been in place for at least a year and possibly longer.

"I have a responsibility, as Older People's Champion, to ensure that resources available to improve the well-being of older people are used to the best effect. We do need more money to meet the needs of an increasing number of older people in the city in areas such as home care, extra care housing and maintaining more elderly people in independent living.

"I described some of the important measures I am keen to support including improved day care services, reablement after hospital care and using luncheon clubs and other facilities to benefit many more older people in our communities.

"Meals on Wheels has a role to play in this process but we must ensure that the resources are used to bring the maximum benefit in terms of social contact and support.

"Finally, any review of any aspect of our services for older people will be conducted in a full and open manner involving our service users and I am happy to give this assurance."