A UNION leader today claimed the closure of children's homes in Lancashire would throw childcare in the county into crisis.

Union leaders have claimed that hundreds of children identified as being at risk are being left in that situation because of inadequate care.

And they have warned that the situation will get worse unless drastic action is taken.

Today county hall insisted the closures were part of a bid to improve the service and they would not implement them until they had the resources in place to make them work.

"We fear the situation is like a ticking bomb, a tragedy waiting to happen," said Tim Ellis, regional officer of UNISON.

"The situation is that childcare in Lancashire is a growing crisis and we are calling for an urgent review of the policy of closing children's homes and the general provision of child placements."

Social Services bosses at Lancashire County Council have begun consulting on plans to axe their homes in Branacre Road, Longridge, and Blake Gardens in Great Harwood.

Two more in Chorley also face the chop. All will probably close before next April.

Marsden Hall Road Home, Nelson, and Dyke Nook Resource and Reception Centre, Accrington, used for youngsters when they first came into care, were closed last September for "operational reasons".

At the same time, UNISON, which has members employed in the childcare sector, says increased provision for fostering is not even guaranteed, never mind in place. "We understand that in the last year the County lost 120 or so active fosterers and only gained 100," said Mr Ellis.

"As a result of previous closures and the current situation, children are being placed in inappropriate placements or out of the county or, worse still, left in the place of risk.

"Duty social workers have reported that up to ten children a week are being identified as at risk but not being placed.

"Over the year many hundreds of children are in this position."

Mr Ellis, who has written to county council social services chief Coun Chris Cheetham, called for home closures to be suspended and for a review of how the County Council was to proceed with guaranteeing quality care for children in Lancashire.

Lancashire County Council Social Services is already under intense pressure to look again at plans to close residential care homes for the elderly.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council pointed out that Coun Cheetham had not received the letter from Unison.

He added, however: "The proposals for children's homes are part of our plans to change our services for the better. The radical children and families strategy for Lancashire aims to transform our services ensuring quality standards of care and a focus on increasing the number of children looked after in foster care.

"The increasing demand for foster care places will inevitably lead to a reduction in the need for residential places.

"This does not, however, mean that children will be left without homes.

"None of the closures proposed as part of the residential care review have yet been implemented and it is our intention to have the necessary resources in place to deliver the strategy before any closures go ahead.

"We are not aware of any evidence to suggest that any at risk child is without a care place.

"We have been in discussion with Unison on the proposals and will continue to work with them to ensure all the children in our care continue to receive the most appropriate care."

Matt Huggins, national secretary of the Care Leavers' Association, which has also written to County Hall and local MPs expressing concern, said: "Councillors have a responsibilty as corporate parents not the neglect these children.

"Moving is known to be one of life's most stressful situations, and yet children are being moved 10 times over a short period."

And he said that youngsters aged 13 and 14 who had been reported to be at risk were regularly kept overnight in police cells because there were no places available for them.

"There are simply not enough foster homes, and in any case fostering does not suit every child. Children's homes are an essential commodity."