BURNLEY Council is to reconsider its backing for legal action over the closure of 32 care homes after a neighbouring authority announced it was pulling out.

Ribble Valley Council leader Chris Holtom said he felt his authority had no choice but to back out of the fight after being advised by lawyers that, if the challenge was lost, they could be liable for costs.

In the summer, the 12 district councils came together to challenge Lancashire County Council's plans to close 32 of the 48 OAP homes through the High Court.

Initially, 11 councils agreed but since then they have steadily dropped off.

A spokesman for Burnley Council said today: "We have heard the news from Ribble Valley and are obviously very disappointed. We will be considering our position in the coming days."

Yesterday, only Burnley, Chorley, Wyre and Ribble Valley were prepared to go to the High Court. But Coun Holtom said: "Most of the Labour councils decided to throw in the towel early on.

"We are now faced with the situation of counsel's opinion giving us a reasonable chance of success in the High Court but with a risk of substantial costs being awarded against us if we lose.

"I have to consider if we can risk Ribble Valley taxpayers money on a High Court challenge, especially when any costs would have to be borne among three or four councils. After taking advice from my colleagues it appears we should not take that risk. The leader of Lancashire County Council has assured me that elderly persons' care provision will not suffer. This remains to be seen."

In Ribble Valley, Fell View home in Longridge will close, while Castleford in Clitheroe will be remodelled.

Burnley and Chorley councils have yet to say if they will fight on. The only authority to rule out being involved from the start was Hyndburn.

Leader Ian Ormerod said: "We cannot justify the cost or the risk to the taxpayer of such a fight and I do not believe it would achieve much."