Health fears over centre closure

Mrs Wildman, whose mother attends the centre, says people enjoy it there

Campaigners say the health of elderly people is suffering because of plans to close a day care centre in Leeds.

Calverlands in Horsforth will shut in the new year and become a centre for specialist dementia services.

Mrs Wildman, whose mother attends the centre, said the decision had left some elderly people depressed and anxious.

Leeds City Council said it had not yet offered an alternative centre for people to use but said it would be talking to users and their carers.

Mrs Wildman's mother Anne Sadd said: "We're devastated, we've said we don't want to go... why should they push us out, we're all going to be broken up."

Centre protest

Mrs Wildman said: "There's depression and anxiety. People are not sleeping, they're not eating, you can see their health failing, all for the sake of closing Calverlands."

In a statement the council said: "We realise how important it is to keep groups of friends who want to stay together together."

Centre users are worried they will be split up from friends

It continued: "The next step is to explore people's preferred options and identify groups of friends who want to stay together.

"We will give customers and their carers every opportunity to let us know what issues are important to them."

People gathered outside Calverlands on Monday to stage a protest over the closure.