ELDERLY residents could face having to leave their sheltered accomodation because of spiralling rent costs.

Sixteen people, several over 90 years old, live at The Gables in St Albans Road and Underleigh in Bolton Road Darwen.

Abbeyfield UK, a national charity which runs both houses, has told residents that their rents will increase – some by up to 32 per cent.

Residents already pay in the region of £600 to £800 a month and an increase of 32 per cent would add between £192 and £256 a month.

Both houses in Darwen were opened for elderly people about 30 years ago by the Abbeyfield (Darwen) Society Ltd after funding was given by people and businesses of the town.

It was run by volunteers until earlier this decade when legislation led to a reduction in volunteer numbers.

At this point, the Darwen charity and its assets – both houses and a physiotherapy clinic in Victoria Street donated by the Darwen District Nursing Association – was amalgamated with other branches nationwide to form Abbeyfield UK.

Now former volunteers are worried about how rocketting costs will hit vulnerable residents.

John Jacklin, who helped to set up the Abbeyfield (Darwen) Society Ltd 30 years ago, attended a meeting to discuss the rises with residents.

He said: “These rises will cause a lot of heartbreak.”

Coun Karimeh Foster’s mother-in-law lives at Underleigh and has been hit by the proposed increases.

Coun Foster said: “I am not happy at all about the increase.

“My concern is that some people will have to leave their home.”

Jill Burder, the communications manager at Abbeyfield UK, said that the new rental structure reflected the cost of providing a range of services.

She said: “We are a not-for-profit organisation and we believe that our charges remain affordable and competitive.

“We are currently talking to all of our residents at Darwen about these changes.

“We would like to re-assure our residents and families that that we are committed to minimising any effect of the revised charges by identifying a range of ways to support them.”