Day care closure bid.

SEVEN centres where elderly and disabled people meet up for fun and companionship look certain to be closed.

Northumberland County Council plans to withdraw from directly providing day care to cut costs.

Social services bosses yesterday proposed the closure of the county council-run day centres in Amble, Bedlington, Blyth, Haltwhistle, Prudhoe, Ponteland and Hexham, which are used by around 300 elderly people each week.

Under the proposals pensioners will be offered 'personal budgets' which they can spend as they choose on getting out of their homes and taking part in social activities.

Despite this, hundreds of people have signed petitions calling for the seven centres to be saved, claiming they offer elderly users a vital chance to meet friends and give relatives an important break from looking after them.

Yesterday council chiefs pledged that anyone who wants to continue receiving traditional, buildingbased day care will be able to do so as part of the reforms.

They have come up with a range of alternative provision in each of the seven affected areas.

But pensioners have accused the council of making savage cuts and forcing needless changes on the elderly.

Wheelchair user Terry Neale, 65, who attends Lyndon House day centre in Blyth said: "No-one wants it to close because they don't want to go anywhere else. Other day centres don't have the facilities which the council centres have."

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FACILITIES: Terry Neale

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