CLOSING two old people's homes in Chorley will leave the most vulnerable people in the borough distraught and could even cause deaths, say workers at one of the homes targeted for closure.

Healey View Residential Home, Botany Brow, and Coniston house, Tootell Street, are among the 35 homes across the county set for closure. In the plans 48 homes for 1,250 residents will be cut to 13 homes providing 572 places, mainly for high dependency residents.

Sue Stainton, care worker at Healey View, said: "When elderly people are moved suddenly from their homes there are more frequent deaths. These are the most vulnerable people in society who have paid their council tax and national insurance all their lives and they are just being trodden on."

Elsie Driver, 78, who has lived at Healey View for eight years, said: "Where do they propose to put us? People like me will just not cope in sheltered housing without a lot of attention."

Elsie, who spent her working life running an elderly home in Cheshire, said: "This generation wants to thank us for where we are today.

At Healey View, the 33 elderly residents are provided with 24-hour care from a team of 35 mainly part-time staff.

Ellen Allan, assistant manager there, said: "There are Alzheimer's sufferers who won't be able to understand and take it in if we have to move. One person came up to me this morning holding out their arms with a big beaming smile. It drives you to tears."

County councillor Chris Cheetham, the social services portfolio holder in charge of the consultation, said: "I understand people in Chorley are unhappy but no one will be thrown out on the street. This is all about making services better, but that change process will be difficult. People have our assurance that we will be as understanding, as careful and as compassionate as possible - nobody should lose a minute's sleep over this."

Coun Cheetham said the majority of people moved from the homes will be placed in private accommodation at the council's expense. There will also be a 44-bedroom accommodation unit built at Grove House for rehabilitation purposes.

Chorley borough and county councillor Pat Case said: "I am in favour of the entire effort to require better resources for older people. We have houses left to Lancashire council 40 years ago which are simply not capable of meeting the standards being set by the Government.

"People are going to be provided with high quality care with custom-built accommodation."

Lancashire County Council will consult with the public on the decision until June 14.