A COUNCILLOR behind plans to close 35 homes for the elderly today revealed he had become a target for hate mail, malicious phone calls and a bomb threat.

The revelation about County Councillor Chris Cheetham came as the government minister in charge of social care, Jacqui Smith, promised to personally monitor the progress of the controversial plans after the issue was discussed in Parliament.

And she said that the cost to the county of meeting the new standards would be no more than £4million despite the higher figures that had been put about.

Today Coun Cheetham, who heads the county's social services, insisted the £14.5million figure he had always mentioned was the cost of bringing care homes up to new government standards -- and refurbishing them. When Labour's Coun Cheetham unveiled plans to review residential care, which could lead the closure of 19 homes in East Lancashire, he admitted he felt he would become the most hated man in Lancashire.

But today he warned he would take action if people continued to ring his home to abuse him and his family, and also send "vicious" letters. Coun Cheetham, who addressed a meeting with Burnley councillors this week to explain the proposals, said: "I am perfectly prepared to accept criticism and have an open discussion with people about these plans. That is what I want.

"But some of these letters have just been vitriolic. I have had phone calls as well where people just shout and have a go.

"On Sunday, I was appearing on TV when someone rang my house claiming to be from the Labour Party.

"They were abusive to my wife who is not a politician. That is where I draw the line, it is not on."

Lancashire County Council has also revealed it received a bomb threat from a woman angry at the proposals.

The threat was made the day before a county council cabinet meeting and was said to be personally directed at Coun Cheetham.

A spokesman for County Hall said: "A bomb threat was received, but the woman who made it regretted it as soon as she had done it.

"The police have spoken to her and we have not changed our security arrangements."

A spokesman for BT said: "We have the ability to trace numbers and have a centre in Blackburn which is dedicated to dealing with malicious calls."

In the House of Commons yesterday, Mrs Smith said mistakes had been made by Lancashire County Council before it unveiled the plans to close the homes to generate cash for the refurbishment of 13 others to comply with new government regulations which come into force in 2007. A final decision will be taken in July.

Mrs Smith said that while the government supported the county in the aim of reducing the number of residential places for old people, there had not been the strategic planning, consultation and communication that there should have been.

She admitted that she had been aware of the row even before the debate, and said that the Social Services Inspectorate was already looking at the proposal and the performance of the county generally.

But Mrs Smith said that the government was not going to force new care standards on existing homes providing proper care and that they would be brought in gradually and flexibly.

East Lancashire MPs demanded a re-think during a heated meeting with county council bosses earlier this month, claiming the plans had been ill thought out and were being rushed.

Hyndburn's Labour MP Greg Pope said: "I shall continue to press for this hit list to be withdrawn. I am delighted that the Minister is to take personal interest in the issue. Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans is to write to Coun Cheetham demanding a rethink.

He continued: "These proposals are barbaric. They sever a lifeline to many of my constituents. It is causing worry to some of our most frail and elderly residents who are forced to look for alternative accommodation.

"The proposals as they stand are tantamount to abuse of the elderly."