WORRIED residents from the eight Blackpool care homes earmarked for closure are clinging on to the hope of a legal lifeline which may give pensioners the chance to stay where they are.

A top Manchester barrister, who visited some of the residents this week, was said to be optimistic with the situation and was in the process of making further inquiries into the case.

CARE (the Caring Alliance for Rest Home Elderly) spokesperson Stephen Bate said the barrister told the residents they had a strong case.

The good news comes as councillors and social services bosses meet CARE representatives for talks over the closures today (August 17) -- the first ever meeting since the plans were announced at the beginning of July. Today's meeting was also the first time the council had acknowledged CARE, who are looking after the interests of more than 50 of the residents. Stephen Bate said prior to this meeting, they had received no official word from the council.

"Meetings with councillors and social services bosses have been postponed over and over again for one reason or another and since the threat of a demonstration at the illuminations switch-on we seem to be getting somewhere," said Mr Bate.

"We hope this is now the start of some genuine discussion," he added.

But despite being the public voice of care, Stephen Bate will not be present at the meeting. Council leader George Bancroft has not invited Mr Bate after the CARE spokesman threatened to disrupt the switch-on of the illuminations by top boy-band Westlife on September 1 as a protest.

"Mr Bate has behaved in an outrageous fashion. He is a political activist and in view of the way he has behaved I refuse to conduct a dialogue with him," said Coun Bancroft, yesterday.