The volunteers deliver meals on wheels to around 100 pensioners

The 26-strong group of women delivers up to 9,000 meals a year to 100 pensioners in the Brecon area.

The group are concerned they may have to undergo police checks and be trained to recognise abuse suffered by clients.

Powys council said the training was not compulsory and 2,500 other volunteers had already undertaken the course.

'Common sense'

The volunteers in the Brecon and District Meals on Wheels Service have been delivering meals on wheels for decades.

Organiser Vivienne Williams said working practices had previously been agreed with council social services who cook the meals and provide transport.

But she said the women, aged in their 60s and 70s, became concerned when it was suggested they would have to undergo police checks and be trained in how to spot signs of abuse among their clients as part of a new contract.

Mrs Williams said: "There's been no problem at all for 37 years.

"The ladies were advised on health and safety and food hygiene which was common sense, but this year things have changed.

Final meals

"We are all volunteers and we felt that we didn't want the extra bureaucracy and responsibility.

One of the volunteers June Downing at work in Brecon

"We are sadly withdrawing the service because we feel police checks and being trained to spot abuse is a bridge too far."

The volunteers are due to take out their last meals on Friday.

Mrs Williams added: "It's very sad the service is going to end like this - we felt we were a valuable asset."

Dorothy Price, 83, who has been receiving meals on wheels from the volunteers said: "I was so used to the people coming into me, the same ones every week.

"It will take a long time to get used to anyone else."

Powys council said the training would not be compulsory but was recommended.

It added that the Women's Royal Voluntary Service would step in to deliver the meals.

The council's chief executive, Mark Kerr, said: "If we have people who are going into an isolated elderly person's house on a fairly frequent basis, it seems to me to be common sense to train them to look for circumstances that might not be favourable."