COUNCILLORS today called on government bosses to take over the running of Lancashire's social services following the controversy over plans to close 35 of the council's old people's care homes.

At a stormy meeting of Lancashire County Council's full council, opposition councillors condemned the plans to close the homes, accusing the ruling Labour group of being uncaring and of losing the confidence of the people of Lancashire.

Of the 35 proposed closures, 19 would be in East Lancashire. Residents will be moved to private homes, which will cost the council less and more people will cared for in their own homes.

The council has said money raised from the move would help bring the remaining 13 homes up to government standards and a final decision is expected in July.

About 40 people gathered outside county hall ahead of the meeting to protest at the plans, which have already prompted outrage from care home residents, unions and MPs.

They fear job losses and they criticised the lack of planning and speed with which the changes could be implemented.

Inside, Conservative social services spokesman Coun Dorothy Stuart said: "There were no discussions before the consultation document was released. It is no wonder the Social Services Inspectorate placed us in special measures.

"I have written to them asking them to come in and sort it out." Under plans unveiled by the government last year, failing social services departments face the prospect of government trouble-shooters being called in if they do not improve.

However, in the last league table of social services, Lancashire was nowhere near the bottom 20 of performing departments.

Coun Chris Cheetham, in charge of social services at county hall, said the plan had come about because of government instructions.

The government wanted fewer people admitted to residential homes, and had also announced the new standards which care homes were expected to reach by 2007 or risk losing their registration.

The estimated bill for bringing care homes in the public sector in Lancashire up to standard is around £4million, a further £10million is said by the council's ruling group to be needed to be spent on refurbishment. But yesterday's meeting was told that the guidelines could be over-ruled if it was felt to be in the residents' best interests, prompting Liberal Democrat leader David Whipp to suggest that the county council had not been fully honest when it unveiled the proposals.

He said: "It is not a case that the care homes will automatically just close, as these guidelines cannot be enforced by law.

"This casts a shadow over the whole consultation."

Coun Doreen Pollitt, deputy leader of the council said: "We have increased our OAP care budget year on year since 1974. Nobody can ever accuse us of not caring."

And council leader, Coun Hazel Harding added: "When I am old I do not just want to be shunted into a care home.

"I want to be surrounded by my own possessions in my own home with my own front door and my own key."