AROUND £2 million of taxpayers' money will be sunk into developing new technology to help the vulnerable in Worcestershire under a radical new project.

Council chiefs have launched an ambitious bid to reduce the growing numbers of elderly people needing residential care by teaming up with the private sector.

It will see Worcestershire County Council link up with innovate technology companies to develop new gadgets allowing people to stay at home for longer, instead of putting them in nursing homes.

For the first time ever it will mean officers at County Hall linking up with investors to help identify, design and roll-out hardware and software, working with the elderly and their families to test-run products.

The move is a response to Worcestershire's serious demographic pressures, with one in five of the county's population aged over 65 now - and those numbers are forecast to rocket from 120,000 to 141,400 by 2021.

More than 3,500 elderly people live in care home settings and increasing numbers of over-80s need more intensive personal visits from nurses, adding to a financial burden which is rising by £1.8 million a year.

With the adult care budget in excess of £137 million the council wants to tackle the pressures head-on.

A new report on the tactic, which has been endorsed by the Conservative leadership today, says the nation has seen "a surge" of new technologies in recent years.

These include devices monitoring fluid intake, gadgets keeping remote checks on a home's heating, plugs which turn a different colour when the bathwater reaches a certain temperature and sensors which alert carers if a pensioner stays in bed too long.

But the council says the marketplace is evolving rapidly, and wants to offer the £2 million upfront investment to work with technology firms on new ideas.

If any emerging products prove successful and a partner firm intends to sell them across the UK or even the world, the county council will take a stake of the profits.

Financially, they hope the £2 million investment will help save a targeted £5.2 million in care placements.

A new report on the move says the council will start the hunt for "innovation partners" in January - and a bid will be considered for extra EU money to beef the kitty up further alongside money the companies will invest.

Councillor Marcus Hart, the cabinet member for health and well-being, said today: "This is exciting and innovative stuff, technology and the world we are living in is always changing - who'd have thought a few years ago we'd be driving around in electric cars.

"We want to ensure as many people as possible can live in their own homes."

Councillor Sheila Blagg, the cabinet member for adult social care, added: "I'm very excited about this project and I know the staff are too.

"It's progressive, it's productive and it's way of going forward without just coping with the inevitable."

During today's cabinet meeting opposition Labour group leader Councillor Peter McDonald said he feared the project being used as a way to mask cuts, saying nothing will "replace a human being".

"My concern is that it's being driven by cuts," he added.

Councillor Blagg said she "absolutely disagrees" with his view on cuts, saying she was disappointed he "cannot see the potential with this project".