UP to a thousand elderly residents of more than 30 Lancashire care homes could face severe damage to their health -- or even death -- if they are forced to move, a top judge was told.

Lancashire County Council came under fire yesterday over its plans for a wholesale shake-up of old people's homes in the area, including the permanent closure of 16 homes and temporary closure of 16 more.

Lawyers representing about 30 of the affected residents are mounting a judicial review challenge to the proposals which they say amount to a breach of their fundamental human rights.

They will be joined in their fight by the Lancashire Care Association Ltd -- who represent private home owners -- and Chorley Borough Council. The case is set to be heard on March 3 at London's High Court.

The council have said they will strongly contest the challenge to its plans which it sees as vital for the future of geriatric care in the county.

They say the closures will be sensitively managed over a five-year period and that each resident's needs will be individually assessed.

The county council's plans -- which they say has been forced upon them by Westminster -- involves a reduction of 600 places in private and public homes over the next five years.