Two Bolton families are among those calling for action on the closing of a respite care centre.

Revitalise Respite Holidays is closing Sandpipers in Southport towards the end of next month.

The respite care centre hosts holidays for those with disabilities allowing them some relief from their day-to-day lives and allowing their families some relief from their responsibilities at the same time.

Anne Dixon and Tom Hanley, both of whom are from the borough, are among those calling for action after an announcement the charity cannot host the holidays for those with disabilities any longer.

Ms Dixon's daughter, Louise Dixon, and Mr Hanley's son, Darren Hanley, both of whom have cerebral palsy, went to Sandpipers for more than 20 years and sometimes several times in the same year.

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Ms Dixon, 88, told The Bolton News: "My husband died eight years ago so it is Louise and I almost all of the time. Louise loves it and I love it because I can do the things I cannot do when I am looking after her.

"Its closure is a very, very bad thing for us."

(Image: Google) Mr Hanley, 78, told The Bolton News: "Sandpipers is a home from home for Darren and he is booked in for one last stay.

"He was booked in for another stay for next year but it is a terrible, terrible shock and the implications of it are so severe."

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The Dixons and The Hanleys are in touch with their MPs and there is a petition to 'Save Sandpipers' which is at around 4,000 signatures at the time of writing. Others are writing to His Majesty King Charles III himself as he was the one to open Sandpipers in the 1980s.

Janine Tregelles, who is the chief executive of Revitalise Respite Holidays, appealed to policymakers in parliament to support the social care sector in a statement to supporters around two weeks ago.

Ms Tregelles said: "We would like to thank you for your loyal support throughout the charity's 60 years of operation.

"We are sorry as the UK's last remaining provider of holidays with 24-hour care for people with complex disabilities we cannot continue in operation."

For information go to change.org/p/save-revitalise-respite-holidays-for-individuals-with-disabilities-and-their-carers.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.