A support group in Glasgow dealing with alcohol addiction is to receive thousands of pounds in extra funding to develop a new service dedicated to middle-aged drinkers, it was revealed on Tuesday.

Research by NHS Scotland shows the number of people aged between 45 and 64 who drink heavily is on the increase - up to around 20 percent.

If that trend continues, its expected by 2030 the number of older people drinking heavily will jump from around 80,000 to 220,000.

Jean Breton has spent the last 25 years drinking alcohol to excess.  The 55-year-old started off drinking socially while in her thirties, but before long she was drinking two litres of vodka a day. 

She got help from an outreach centre called Add-action.  The Glasgow group is being given £350,000 from the Big Lottery Fund so it can specialise in getting help to more people like Jean.

Jean said: "I started off with a quarter bottle at night time.  Then I started with a half bottle at lunchtime and then I found I needed to get it in the night before for first thing in the morning.

"My kids didn't know what they were coming home to.  I ended up having to get in to a unit and get dried out."

Julie Breslan, of Add-action in Glasgow, said: "The big issue is how we identify older drinkers.  If they aren't accessing mainstream addiction services then they are maybe a little more hidden."