THE Royal British Legion has launched its first ever 'Handy Vans' service across Cumbria.

The charity provides free practical support to help serving and ex-serving personnel who live at home.

Handy Vans is a free service from RBL to provide Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families with domestic repairs, maintenance and minor adaptations.

Neil Pantin, aged 37, is the first fitter to be employed by the legion in the county.

He said: "Our aim is to help people live independently in their own homes.

"We can help serving and ex-serving personnel of all ages and all backgrounds, and their families. I’ll be there to help them with small household repairs and minor adaptations."

Services include light bulbs and tap washers, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to door locks and home security as well as building access ramps and storage sheds.

There are currently 23 RBL handy vans operating across the UK and the service is supported by funds raised by the annual Poppy Appeal in Cumbria.

Gary Waters, Technical Officer for the Handy Vans Service said: “Like all of our fitters, Neil will be a great ambassador for the Royal British Legion, and the people he helps will feel safe and secure when he visits them in their homes.

"This is one of the unique ways that the Royal British Legion uses your donations during the Poppy Appeal. It’s available to serving personnel or anyone who has previously been in the Armed Forces, including their partners and Reservists, and it’s free of charge to anyone who is eligible.”