LANCASHIRE is facing an ageing population crisis after experts predicted the number of over 85s will rocket by 137 per cent over the next 20 years.

Following the revelation, a senior councillor has admitted that council taxes may also have to be hiked to fund the increase and a charity has said it is “worried” about the future.

Council chiefs have been warned the county will have 56,800 people in the age group by 2031, up from the current 23,966.

And borough councils across East Lancashire are braced for a larger population of over 65s who are dependent on state benefits, care services and public transport.

However, bosses have pledged that families will not have to directly foot the bill for an increase in services for pensioners and said they hope to get more Government cash instead.

County Councillor Tony Martin, cabinet member for resources, has ruled out completely privatising Lancashire County Council’s care provisions, including home help and meals on wheels, but said some services had always been contracted out.

He added: “We have looked for savings to avoid raising the budget but if things change I am not saying we are never going to put up council tax.

“Everybody will be a service user at some stage.”

Official County Hall figures also predict the Ribble Valley’s population of over 80s will soar by 54 per cent by 2020.

Meanwhile, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale are also expected to see their populations of pensioners increase.

Denise Greenwood, an area manager at Age Concern East Lancashire, said charity bosses were concerned about the prospect of more older people living in “isolated” rural areas with poor transport links and few amenities.

She said: “It is a worry that in remote parts of East Lancashire there will be more older people in isolation.

“We don’t know if they will be able to easily access services.

“I think people are trying to put plans into place to deal with that but we need the funding for it.”

The revelation of the extent of East Lancashire’s age population comes as the Government today revealed that over 65s are expected to make up almost a quarter of the UK’s population by 2032.

Meanwhile, a survey by the GMB union earlier this week found that some council care homes in the north west were running at almost capacity. It showed that 89 per cent of Lancashire’s 9,300 beds were full.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is currently passing control of most of its adult social care department to the independent sector in an attempt to reduce the financial burden.