A COFFIN containing a petition bearing 35,000 names was due to be 'laid to rest' outside County Hall today as protesters planned one final rally against moves to shut care homes.

Hundreds of people from East Lancashire were expected to travel to Preston for the march, bringing the city to a standstill.

After gathering on Preston's flag market, the marchers will travel down Fishergate until they reach County Hall, where the coffin will be left. It will have 'Lancashire County Council Social Services RIP' on its side.

A decision on plans to close 35 of Lancashire's care homes, which would save £14.5million in repairs and refurbishments, was due to be made on Monday.

But last month, Chris Cheetham, the councillor in charge of social services, put back the decision a month so more meetings could be held with organisations interested in taking over some of the homes.

And a report by backbench councillors into the proposals was also late, so Coun Cheetham wanted more time to study it.

That report will go to the cabinet on Monday. It accuses the consultants engaged to compile the report of writing their evidence in favour of closure.

The march through Preston will include union representatives and campaigners from across Lancashire.

Kath Shackleton, from Great Harwood, has helped organise the protest.

She said: "We are taking the opposition to their front door and hoping for a massive turnout to show how much opposition there is to these proposals. If they have been listening, they won't go ahead with the closures."

When plans were unveiled in 1999 to close five homes in the county, a similar protest saw thousands of people, with some dressed as the grim reaper.

Protesters have claimed evidence from Kent suggest the shock of having to move homes can kill old people.

Despite requesting that either Coun Cheetham or council leader Hazel Harding receive the coffin, campaigners have been told neither is available.