BOSSES at the Guild Trust have denied rumours that a therapy unit for people with mental health problems is to close.

Mental health patients working at a the centre based at the former Whittingham hospital site have attacked bosses for planning to close it down. More than 30 people with various mental problems benefit from the workshops but they claim it is to be closed in May.

The scheme, run by the Trust, aims to reintergrate patients into working life by providing a whole range of workshops -- from garden centres to craft workshops, such as woodwork and sign-making.

Now, they are worried that once the therapy unit goes, there will be nothing for them to do. One patient, Mick Smith, 39, who lives in Preston, says he will now having nothing to do during the day.

Mick, who suffers from manic depression, said: "Without these workshops, we will be wandering the streets.

"Everyone here is very upset about the closure. I myself will probably end up sitting at home all day with nothing to do.

"They are very valuable, as we sometimes get work placements out of them."

He added: "I think the people who want to close us down are quite happy at the though of us sitting at home all day -- after all we're out of the way then aren't we?"

However Chris Aspinal, assistant director clinical services mental health, for the Guild Trust, rejected their claims.

He said there are no formal plans to close the site and currently the services available for mental health patients are under review.