AN elderly couple threatened with being split up under a nursing home shake-up were today told they could stay together after a U-turn by council bosses.

The change of mind came just 48 hours after the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed how Ann and Harold Hacking could have been forced into different care homes after 54 years of marriage.

The story caused widespread anger but today the man leading the controversial plans to close 35 out of 48 care homes in Lancashire said he could now give an assurance the couple would not separate. And Lancashire County Council chiefs went one step further to promise all couples and even close friends would not be split up under the plans.

Ann, 77, and Harold, 83, were delighted after being told the news today at the Castleford Home for the Elderly, Clitheroe.

But they vowed to continue to fight the plans.

Ann, a former nurse, said: "I am very pleased to hear that they have said we will stay together.

"Nobody would say that to us and the Lancashire Evening Telegraph has helped.

"But it isn't good enough. We want to stay here. We have lived here for 10 years and enjoyed so much here. We had our golden wedding here.

"For us it is important that we stay around our friends here. We have lived in Clitheroe all the time and we don't want to have to go elsewhere."

Harold added: "I am pleased to hear that we can stay together. Nobody would say that before. But this is our home and we want it to stay that way."

The man in charge of social services, Coun Chris Cheetham, had earlier said there were 'no guarantees' the couple would stay together.

But today he said: "I have told officers to inform the 11 couples in our care that they will stay together. I am happy to now make that assurance."

Castleford is not one of the 13 homes earmarked for closure but it is expected to undergo a refurbishment and residents who are moved out have no guarantees they will be placed back there.

Council leader Hazel Harding said councillors had called her in tears after hearing the couple may be forced to split.

She said: "I can assure you that couples will stay together. We will make sure that happens. The same applies for close friends.

"Nothing has been decided on which places will close or when. We are still consulting with people and will be listening to the residents as well.

"The very reason they are in care homes together is because they want to be together and we want to emphasise to people that we would not separate anyone.

"Whether they have been married for more than 50 years or met each other in a care home, they will not be separated.

"I've had councillors ringing me in tears saying how could we ever consider such a thing?"

The council is currently carrying out a consultation on the plans after it revealed the closure project.

It says bringing all homes up to new government standards would cost £14.5 million.

More than 1,800 readers have joined a Lancashire Evening Telegraph campaign to stop the closures.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who wrote to to county bosses asking them to intervene in the Hacking case, said: "It's a great shame that this couple have been put through this ordeal, but I am finally delighted the county has changed its mind and allowed them to stay together."

Patrick Collister, of Age Concern Hyndburn, said today: "It is important that older people's minds are put at rest regarding this issue and that married couples remain together irrespective of any relocation which might have to take place."

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