ANGRY scenes followed this week's controversial decision to close six Lancashire care homes, including two in Preston.

More than 200 campaigners, who had hoped to save the homes for the elderly, marched through Preston town centre ahead of Tuesday's meeting of the county council's social services committee.

But Labour councillors agreed to axe the homes, which include Oakleigh and The Limes in Preston, despite a call to defer the decision from Conservatives and Liberal Democrats' appeals to keep them open.

The Oakleigh centre will close and cash redirected into day care provision for Preston's ethnic minority pensioners.

The Limes will be closed in stages. Savings will pay for services for local people.

But, until permanent accommodation can be found for Oakleigh residents, they will lodge at The Limes.

Social services committee chairman Doreen Pollit said all sides of the issue had been taken into account.

She added: "These are difficult decisions because the council has received many representations.

"I recognise that this will cause upset to residents and their relatives but the council must consider how to meet the needs of an increasing elderly population in Lancashire."

Scores of enraged campaigners walked out halfway during the meeting after being told to curb their cries of "villains" and "you're killing the old people."

Protesters included care home residents. One, Barbara Wiggins, said: "Figures show that the last time they did something like this the majority of the people who had been moved died within a year. This is little more than murder to save money."

Kathleen Mercer, who carried a cardboard axe along Fishergate to prove her point, added: "I was hopeful but they just wouldn't listen."

They feelings were echoed by Preston Borough Councillor Elaine Abbott, who told her county council party members she was 'ashamed to be a member of the Labour Party'.

She later said: "This is a moral issue, but the Labour members sounded like they were talking about cattle."

Fellow Labour borough councillor Derek Barton, of Central Ward, where Oakleigh is situated, added: "It is diabolically cruel the way these elderly people will be treated."

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