SOCIAL Care Minister Jackie Smith today promised to personally monitor the progress of controversial plans to close 35 of Lancashire County Council's homes for the elderly.

It came as East Lancashire MPs united in Parliament to call on the county council to drop plans to shut the homes.

A House of Commons debate heard that the proposals were causing fear and anxiety among old people across Lancashire.

The council has unveiled plans to shut the homes and sell on the land to generate the cash needed to bring the remaining premises up to new government standards.

The council is currently carrying out consultations on the proposals before making a final decision in July.

Pendle backbencher Gordon Prentice, who called the debate, told Social Care Minister Jacqui Smith that the plans had caused an unprecedented wave of protest.

He said: "These are days full of anxiety for many elderly people and their relatives."

Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans said the proposal was "tantamount to abuse of the elderly" and said they were cruel because they would confine some people to their own homes.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "We must ditch this hit list which is what it is. We cannot have a proper debate about these proposals while the hit list remains."

He accepted that some homes might have to close but attacked the cruel and careless way the changes have been put forward.

Meanwhile the man responsible for the proposed care home closures in Lancashire has begun a tour of district councils to explain the reasoning behind his plans.

Coun Chris Cheetham met with members of Burnley's Labour Party last night after concern was expressed about the closures at a full council meeting last week.

He has meetings lined up with councils across the county, all of which are opposed to the closures.