CARERS of stroke sufferers are often landed with a 24/7 job they never expected.

And to give them and the people they look after an opportunity to take a short break, South Wirral Stroke Club has just extended its service.

The club was started 15 years ago by a small group of women led by the late Becky Stephens and June Atkinson.

Up to now it has hosted evening meetings every second Thursday of the month for stroke patients and their carers.

But now the club is also to run daytime meetings, on the last Tuesday of every month, in the Oak Room at Whitby Sports & Social Club on Chester Road.

Club spokesman Pam Clarke said: “We feel that not only are we reaching our capacity for the evening sessions, but a lot of the stroke sufferers that we meet are not prepared to go out in the evenings.”

She added: “Our aim, as in the evenings, is to help sufferers integrate back into a social environment.

“We offer them help and advice through a number of local bodies and generally introduce them to others with whom they can form friendships, or just moan about life!”

The stroke club receives financial backing from Ellesmere Port Charity Support Shop, run by Pam Clarke.

She explained that with two charities now no longer needing this support, there were vacancies in the shop’s network.

Organisations need to be locally based and must also meet a number of other criteria, which Pam can explain if they contact her on 0151 355 7700.