Four-inch plastic bottles could help save lives.

Next month, the Lions' clubs of Oxfordshire will be giving the bottles, used to contain someone's medical information, free to hundreds of people living on their own from February 1.

Emergency services often face problems when they are called to the home of someone who lives alone and who has collapsed or been involved in a serious accident.

The bottles, kept in fridges, will contain personal information that could be crucial knowledge for the emergency services, such as medical conditions, regular medications, allergies, doctor's details and particulars of next of kin. Stickers will be placed behind front doors on the fridges.

Wantage and Grove Lions Club welfare officer Liz Tyrell, who is help co-ordinate the county-wide initiative, known as 'Message in a Bottle', said: "We have been in touch with chemists and other organisations that could help distribute the bottles to those who need them.

"At the moment we've got 250 bottles but can order more within a couple of weeks when they are needed."

The bottles will cost the clubs about 25p each.

For further details, call Liz Tyrell on 01235 223684 or Nan Draper on 01865 391257.

designed to help people who live on their own.

As from February 1, the Lions' Clubs are aiming to provide small plastic bottles containing information that emergency services might need to know.

The bottles are free of charge and are available to everyone in need of one.