A care home for terminally ill people in Stoke-on-Trent has ordered security checks on a group of elderly flower arrangers.

The 15 members of the Barlaston Floral Decoration Society have visited the home three times a week for the last ten years.

But the Douglas Macmillan Hospice, near Blurton, says it is caught up in new government legislation.

Flower arranger Audrey Wood, from Barlaston, says she now feels like a criminal.

Ridiculous checks

Ms Wood, who is chair of the group, says she has had a letter asking her to take part in a criminal check and sign a disclaimer saying she has a clean record.

She told BBC Radio Stoke the checks were ridiculous.

"As none of us have been into prison or fined for things, I think it is a bit much after we have done it for so long," she said.

The chief executive of the hospice, which is the only specialist palliative care provider for adults in north Staffordshire, said it had to comply with government regulations.

Simon Youatt said: "Most of those people who do flower arranging for us do go on to the ward and do take flowers to the patients' bedrooms and therefore have direct opportunity for contact with patients."