A WOMAN who symbolised the fight to keep dozens of care homes across Lancashire open has lost her fight for life.

The plight of Phoebe Hickey, 86, touched the hearts of thousands across the county when Northlands Nursing Home, Great Harwood, was under threat.

She moved into the home days before the county council revealed plans to close 35 of its 48 care homes in January 2002. Her Alzheimer's became too much for her husband to cope with at home.

She passed away peacefully at the end of last week.

Her war hero husband Norman, who fought in the Second World War with the East Lancashire Regiment's 5th Battalion, immediately joined the fight against the closure plans and helped win important concessions in the battle against Lancashire County Council.

Thirty two homes, including Northlands, have now been earmarked for closure despite the massive outcry.

But today Norman, who visited Phoebe every day at Northlands for 18 months, vowed to fight on to make sure the council keeps its promise given in court that no elderly person will moved until they have been assessed as fit to do so.

A picture of the couple was always with Norman whenever he travelled to fight for the homes. It was shown to ministers in London, at the High Court and the county council. He feared if Phoebe had to move, the shock could kill her. A move would also have meant she was no longer within walking distance of his home.

Norman, 84, of Lyndon Court, Great Harwood, said: "I intend to make sure there's justice for all. We won an important victory with our campaign and we'll fight on to make sure every person in these homes gets a fair deal.

"They're not to blame for Phoebe's death, but are to blame for putting us and thousands of others in a terrible situation."

The couple were married for 55 years, but Norman waited eight years before asking "the girl of his dreams" for a date after spotting her at a cinema where she worked as a sweet seller. The pair dated on his return from the war and married in 1947 at St Bartholomew's Church, Great Harwood, where Phoebe's funeral takes place at 10am tomorrow.

Lynne Atkinson, from the Hyndburn Action Committee, said: "Phoebe's death is very sad It's important the county council sticks to its promise and only moves people fit to be moved.

"If they don't, residents could die and relatives go through what Norman is going through when it could have been avoided."