THE ticking time bomb of elderly care in Dorset will be under the Newsnight spotlight tonight after Jeremy Paxman visited Christchurch for a special programme.

The show, A Senior Moment, focuses on the growing problem of caring for an ageing population, with Christchurch selected predominantly for the high proportion of older people living there.

The presenter spent the day in Christchurch on Monday, meeting staff and residents at Avon Reach care home in Mudeford as well as filming an interview with Debbie Ward, director of adult and community services at Dorset County Council, at The Scullery Tearooms in Highcliffe.

Dawn Henderson, co-owner of the eatery with her husband Shaun, said: “Jeremy was so nice. “He sat in the tearooms and interviewed the lady in charge of adult services at Dorset County Council.

“He was very pleasant and liked our jubilee decorations. We just had a general chit chat.”

Producers also spoke to Cllr Denise Jones, elderly people’s champion at Christchurch Borough Council as well as local carer, Mary Levy.

Ken Hoskins, a resident of Avon Reach care home and a former Bournemouth Times photographer, said: “We talked about a lot of things to do with getting older and care homes. He was a lot softer on us than he usually is with politicians.”

Currently, a third of the UK’s population is aged over 50 and this is expected to rise by another 30 per cent over the next 20 years.

In Dorset the figure is even higher and over the next five years, expected to grow to 40 per cent of the total population.

Debbie Ward said: “BBC Newsnight is one of the UK’s most influential news programmes, and we were pleased to take part and highlight the financial challenges we face. “There are huge financial pressures being faced by councils in the years ahead, but re-designing services and better technology can make services more efficient and more personal.”

She added: “Many of the older people living here are active members of society and value their independence. Many also chose to work as volunteers and provide much needed help.”

The programme will be screened on BBC2 at 10.30pm as part of the “When I’m 65” season.