MORALE-BOOSTING parties for residents in closure-threatened care homes have been stopped by Lancashire County Council.

Dispirited residents from the three Fylde care homes threatened with closure have been denied the opportunity of welcoming members of the community into their homes by the county council.

Relatives of residents and campaigners to save the homes had organised various coffee and cake afternoons to try to boost the low morale of many of the residents -- who had been feeling abandoned and let-down after public and private meetings have failed to resolve their situation.

They had been scheduled to take place on Saturday at care homes including Worsley House in Fleetwood and Thornton House, Thornton. But care home managers received word from council officials that they were not to go ahead with the events.

Pat Gordon, chairwoman for the Save Worsley House campaign said: "The morale of residents is very low at the moment and we thought that this would help cheer them up.

"They would have been able to meet with members of their community and would realise how many people do care and are concerned about them, which would make them feel better.

"As for the council stopping it, they say it is because they are primarily concerned about the vulnerability of the elderly and don't want them to be unduly exposed.

"I think it is very hypocritical of them to say this and I don't think that their primary concern is for the elderly at all. It is in the council's best interests if the press and public don't attend."

A county council spokesperson said: "We were only aware of an event that was planned at Worsley House. The coffee afternoon can still go ahead but only with relatives present.

"We have stated that the public and press should not be invited as we feel it would be too intrusive for the residents and the whole situation could easily become unmanageable."

Pat Gordon is hoping to reschedule the open house events to take place soon by obtaining full permission from relatives of residents."

Chairwoman of Blackpool Care Group Maureen Horn added: "I have been working closely with Pat Gordon and residents at Worsley House and giving them support at public meetings and such. I thought it was a great idea that the residents could invite friends and the public into what after all are their own 'homes'.

"The message I want to get across to the council is that we are not going anywhere and it is still full steam ahead as far as campaigning goes.

"We need more people to come forward and join the fight."