HUNDREDS of vulnerable people will see their care package disappear or shrink from next February - but a county council chief says those in need will not be "cut adrift".

County councillors have rubberstamped a decision to reduce the qualification level for adult social care from "moderate" to "substantial", as part of a decision which will affect households across Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley.

And gateway' services, signposting people to alternative provisions in the voluntary, faith and community sectors, will not be fully up and running until September 2008.

But Coun Chris Cheetham, Lancashire's adult social care cabinet member, said: "We do recognise that people who are affected by these changes will need help.

"But we are going to help them through that process. This is not about saving money but it is about using money differently. We are not going to cut people adrift.

"In future we are not going to be seen as a major provider of care but we will be looking at providing services through the voluntary, faith and community sectors."

Social services are keen to employ the services of organisations such as Help The Aged and Age Concern to cater for people's care needs. The county council already contracts Age Concern to provide some OAP services in Preston.

Coun Cheetham says that the contracts will probably be arranged on an area-by-area basis so provisions can be tailored to local needs.

An estimated £4million will be spent on an extensive gateway' network, run by social services, which will make recommendations and give advice to people seeking alternatives to existing care packages, either via hotlines or by face-to-face support sessions at various locations.

County Hall's own surveys on the controversial changes have shown that many believe it is unfair that people, formerly entitled to social services home care, will be required to either pay for support or rely on non-statutory assistance.

Others questioned by the authority, as part of a wide-ranging consultation exercise, have voiced fears about the ability of hard-pressed charities and voluntary groups to meet the increasing care burdens of an ageing population.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has also agreed this year to reduce the level at which people qualify for elements of home care as part of a £3.3million cuts package to the adult social care budget.