I AM very angry and also very sad about the treatment this Labour government has handed out to residents of care homes.

It was obvious to anyone with half a brain that the National Care Home Standards were unobtainable without spending an enormous amount of money, also causing a great deal of heartache.

I am pleased the Government has at last seen sense and is now abandoning the standards for existing homes. But at what cost?

Many private homes have closed, being unable to meet the standards, disrupting the lives of many elderly and very frail people.

There is now a shortage of care home places throughout the country. Let us hope that with this change, the Labour Party at County Hall will also see sense and review its policy on Lancashire's own care homes.

COUNTY COUN TONY PIMBLETT, Liberal Democrat Social Services spokesman, Princes Road, Penwortham, Preston.