THE grandmother stuck in hospital because of a freeze on social services funding has been told the cash is now available.

Just hours after the Echo revealed the plight of Sylvia Orchard blocking up a bed in Wimborne Hospital, social services told the family the money was being paid.

It means the 81-year-old, who has lived in the Wimborne area all her life, will be in her new home next week.

Delighted grand daughter Nicky Oliver told the Echo: "Thank you for all that you did.

"I have spoken to social services - he was a very nice man - and he has said that the money is there and that we can go ahead. Granny should be in her new place on Monday."

The Echo revealed yesterday how Mrs Orchard had been in hospital almost seven weeks while her family tried to find her a suitable home based on the £323 a week social services were willing to fund.

Places are in demand and, because of Mrs Orchard's level of care needs and the fact she was being social services-funded meant the family had a limited choice.

Most homes wanted more cash, prompting the family to look at paying any extra themselves.

They were delighted when they eventually found a place they were happy with, although it cost £350 a week. But Mrs Oliver felt the family could pay the difference.

However, she was left shocked when social services announced they had been forced to withhold the money indefinitely because of urgent priorities elsewhere, forcing Mrs Orchard to stay in hospital even though she wasn't ill.

Mrs Oliver said: "We have been under such pressure but the man I spoke to at social services was very helpful. He said that because we were willing to pay the top-up costs of the place he felt he could move it forward."

She added: "Granny will be glad to get out of hospital and into her new place."

Spokeswoman for Dorset Social Services Annie Wheatley had apologised to Mrs Orchard and her family yesterday for the delays.

Today she said: "The funding has now been agreed for Mrs Orchard and her family have been told."