THE number of people backing the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's campaign to halt the closure of 35 OAP homes today hit the 1,000 mark.

Launched just 10 days ago, the paper has seen a deluge of campaign coupons returned.

The news came as a Labour councillor declared himself 'ashamed' to be part of the same party which is proposing the cuts.

County hall chiefs want to close 35 of their 48 care homes by 2007 to avoid a £14.5million repair and refurbishment bill - part of which involved bringing the homes up to new national standards.

Around 600 county care places would be left, although they currently look after 1,100.

Residents would be put into private care instead.

Earlier this week, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed how county council leader Hazel Harding had issued a pledge that no-one would be forced into private care after their plans caused outcry.

Instead, she unveiled plans to lobby Government for extra money to enable them to build a new care home, which would allow people from other homes to move out of their current homes.

Those homes would be sold off, allowing for others to be refurbished and creating more cash for home-care provision designed at keeping people in their homes rather than forcing them into care homes.

But ultimately, some homes will close.

Since the announcement by Coun Harding on Tuesday, a further 500 letters opposing the closure have been received.

The plans have prompted Barnoldswick councillor Frank Neal to declare himself ashamed to be in the Labour Party.

He said: "In my opinion when people voted for the Labour Party in the last two elections it was because of what was considered an uncaring Tory government.

"That government would never even have thought about this gross act of indecency to the people most vulnerable in our society.

"As a member of the Labour Party and a borough councillor, I am ashamed that we have even let the idea enter our heads let alone try and push the proposals through."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "There is so much opposition to these plans that they should be dropped altogether.

"They have already had to do one U-turn. They should listen to people."

County hall bosses have vowed the consultation will continue, with a series of public meetings being held across the area in coming weeks.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "We are pleased to see people taking part in the consultation process and we look forward to receiving the replies sent to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph."