Care home closure plan approved

Elderly residents would be cared for in their homes

Council leaders in Lancashire have voted to close 32 of the county's 48 care homes for the elderly.

The controversial plans were agreed at a meeting on Thursday.

Lancashire County Council wants elderly people to be looked after in their own homes rather than in local-authority run centres.

But residents' relatives say forcing them to move will affect their health and breaches human rights legislation.

'Suffering' caused

The council's cabinet member for social services, Chris Cheetham, said that it would be "an act of cowardice" if the council did not make changes just because they were difficult.

Conservative County Councillor Robert Hodge told the meeting that the proposals have caused "suffering, anxiety and fear".

Campaigners against the closures attended the three-hour meeting at County Hall in Preston.

They plan to take legal action to oppose the closures.