A SCHEME to help police and the NHS support sufferers of mental health is being rolled out across Greater Manchester.

Police in Bolton and the town’s police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd are backing the scheme, which will give officers 24-hour telephone contact with specialist mental health teams.

Officers dealing with people suffering from mental illness can now call for information to allow them to direct the individual involved to the most appropriate service.

Mr Lloyd said: “We need to make sure that the vulnerable people in our community get the care and support they need and this scheme is enabling that.”