BOLTON'S old people's homes have been saved from the axe.

Social services committee councillors will make budget cuts of £2.3m at a special meeting on Wednesday.

But no more homes will close. Last year, two homes, Stocks Park and Lever Edge, shut and there were fears that more would follow.

But social services chiefs now believe they will not in the long term be able to offer the same level of service for residential and nursing home care. The effect of this is likely to be "bed blocking" in hospitals.

This means that people who are well enough to leave hospital may have to stay because there is nowhere for them to go.

It is also likely to mean less choice for people because social services chiefs will buy up cheaper "block bookings" of places.

Mr Steve Gallagher, director of social services, said: "We have done everything in our power to avoid harming existing services. But I am very worried about the future. We will be saying no to people who ask for our services who we used to be able to say yes to."

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