A KEY legal challenge over the fate of more than 30 Lancashire care homes has been delayed by last-minute attempts to break the deadlock.

The judicial review was triggered by Lancashire County Council's plan for a wholesale shake-up of old people's homes in the area, including the closure of 32 homes.

Lawyers for around 30 of up to 1,000 affected residents are attacking the council's stance and want the proposals blocked on grounds that they amount to a major break of the residents human rights.

The case was scheduled to start yesterday but Mr Justice Sullivan agreed to adjourn it to enable further negotiations between the parties.

Residents' counsel, Philip Havers QC, said both sides would use the time "to build upon areas of agreement that have emerged."

"It may take most, if not all of the morning, to achieve this," he said.

The county council's barrister, Rhodri Thompson QC, agreed to the adjournment, but added a word of caution about the chances of reaching a substantial agreement.

He said one of the key obstacles preventing resolution was the council's "difficulty in giving a binding assurance about events which might take place in quite delicate circumstances in three to four years' time."

If the case does proceed, the judge is expected to hear expert evidence about the effects of moving old and vulnerable people out of the homes they know.

At the end of the day's talks, Kath Shackleton from the Hyndburn Action Committee, who is representing residents in the negotiations, said: "Movement has been very rapid.

"We as a group are very positive we are moving towards prevention of the closures of all the homes in Lancashire.

"We are here to safeguard the lives of those people in the homes and we feel that our objective is in sight. Our objective seems attainable."

Campaigner Norman Hickey, 83, whose wife Phoebe is a resident of Northlands Nursing Home, Great Harwood, said: "We are fighters and we are still fighting and we are still speaking."

At a preliminary High Court hearing earlier this month, Mr Havers said the county council's plans would create "real risks for the lives and health" of the homes' residents.

But the council has said they will hotly contest the challenge to its plans which it sees as vital for the future of care of elderly people in the county.

Private care home owners have already ended their legal challenge against the council's decision after reaching an agreement. Chorley Borough Council is continuing its challenge, claiming its ability to provide community care for residents moved out of homes had not been properly considered.