THE leader of Lancashire County Council today apologised to residents of care homes earmarked for closure after letters sent to the elderly people left them confused about their future.

Hundreds of pensioners living in Lancashire's 48 residential homes face an uncertain future after the county council announced plans to close all bar 13 homes.

Letters were sent to the residents last Thursday revealing a consultation on the future of care for the elderly was being carried out.

But letters, shown to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, explained that there was to be a review of services but did not state the homes could close.

Several also appeared to be poorly printed, and also had been Tippexed over to correct certain points.

In East Lancashire, 19 homes face the chop -- with more than 600 residents affected. They will probably be moved to private homes, while more effort will be made to keep older people in their own homes in the future.

Today, carers and managers at two homes earmarked for closure said many residents had been confused by the two-page letter, and had to be told by staff it could mean they were on the move.

Irene Magee, manager of Castleford Residential Home in Clitheroe, said: "The letters arrived, and to be honest, they were very confusing for the residents.

"Many of them had to have them explained to them by us, and we worked late doing that. They didn't spell out the situation very well."

Care assistant at the same home, Valerie Bibby, said: "The letters just left them even more confused. They weren't very good."

James Aldred, a 94-year-old resident at the home said: "It didn't make any sense, I still don't understand it.

"I haven't a clue what is going on and the letter explained nothing to me. The staff have had to tell me."

At Peel Court in Oswaldtwistle, Gail Heaney, the senior residential officer, said: "The letters caused a lot of confusion.

"We have to go around and explain what they meant."

To keep all of the homes open would cost the council £14.5million because of new care standards being introduced.

To bring the 13 earmarked to stay open will cost up to £10million -- possibly funded by the sale of other homes.

Council leader Hazel Harding said: "I am sorry if the letters confused people. We had to release them quickly which could have led to them being more confusing than normal.

"We do strive to use plain English but at the moment, nothing is definite, because we are still consulting on what is happening.

"However, staff were on hand to talk to people in the homes about what was happening."

Burnley's MP Peter Pike today said he had "grave reservations" about the Government legislation which could mean the closure of the homes.

He said: "The Government's priority now is to move people into a new type of 'super' sheltered housing.

"All I can say at this stage is that I have some concerns on Government policy over this and some concern about Lancashire County Council's position."

Mr Pike said that during the consultation period in the run up to a final decision in July he will make those concerns clear and play an active part in the process.