A SCHEME aimed at helping elderly people do their shopping will leave them vulnerable to bogus callers, council bosses have been warned.

The pilot project has been set up by Lancashire County Council to try and reduce the amount of time care workers spend on trips for groceries and other essentials.

Social services bosses believe the time, 10 to 15 per cent of a worker's average day, could be better used.

Coun Chris Cheetham, cabinet member for social services, said pensioners with computers would be shown how to use websites operated by the likes of Tesco and Sainsburys, who offer home delivery.

In other cases, care workers will take the orders off the pensioners, ring them in to an administration centre and secretaries will place the orders on-line.

But Patrick Collister, from Age Concern in Hyndburn, said: "We offer a similar service for people who have just come out of hospital.

"But whereas we have one person who people trust, and who can also be a friend and provide all sorts of other advice, what the county council is proposing will mean vulnerable people letting strangers into their homes. It could make them very nervous."

And Lib Dem leader David Whipp added: "It would be much better if local shops were used, which the older people already know and possibly staffed by people they know.

"There is no doubt this is a money-saving exercise aimed at getting as much out of the service as possible for as little money.

"People will now be faced with the prospect of letting strangers in and answering the door at times when they wouldn't otherwise. They know and trust their carer, and could more easily trust a friendly face from a local shop rather than an anonymous driver from a supermarket chain."

Coun Cheetham said: "We are moving towards caring for more and more people in their own homes. We have increased the amount we spend on home care by more than £7million this year and that will continue to increase.

"But we believe that it would be foolish not to look at how new technology could be used to benefit the service we provide.

"We are looking at four pilot schemes which will ultimately enable care workers spend their time in more productive ways and help more people."

He added: "This is a pilot project, and we need to look at the problems as they occur. As with most things, I am sure they could be overcome."