STUDENTS have turned their candid camera on the plight of hundreds of old people who face being turned out of their East Lancashire care homes.

Widespread anger greeted plans by Lancashire County Council to close 35 of its 48 homes -- and the students are recording the campaign to save them.

Accrington and Rossendale College tutor Stephen Murphy said the video documentary would give his media students hands-on experience of working with a real-life situation.

And Lisa-Marie Hunt, 24, who is taking a BA Honours degree course in film, broadcasting and communications, said: "We felt we wanted to do something. We want the film to be a voice of the people."

Lisa-Marie, who lives at Old Farmside, Oakdale, in Blackburn, and Peter Hampson, 23, of Woodside Crescent, Newchurch, who is taking the same course, are visiting care homes and interviewing old people. The students were speaking as they filmed at the home of Lynne Atkinson in Whitaker Street, Accrington. Lynne's mother Marian, 75, is a resident at the Hill Top home in the town which is one of those in Hyndburn threatened with closure.

She said: "My mother didn't want to go in, but she was ill and I was becoming ill trying to look after her and work full time. But after two or three weeks she said she loved it. My mum and old people like her just don't want to leave. It's so upsetting."

Peter added: "When the documentary is finished we'll be sending copies right to the top, including Tony Blair."

Nearly 2,000 readers have joined a Lancashire Evening Telegraph campaign to to stop the care home closures. Lancashire County Council leader Hazel Harding said: "Nothing has been decided on which places will close or when."