LANCASTER MP Hilton Dawson has criticised the county council's social services for causing the closure of a local orphanage.

Lancashire County Council has stopped placing children at Nazareth House children's home off Ashton Road which means it will close its doors on 100 years of history on February 28.

Hilton said: "I am simply appalled that a very good voluntary sector children's home, which has served families in Lancaster for 100 years, is being cast aside. Even if there is no current demand for it to provide residential care, the skills and experience of staff could have been put to very good use working with children and families in the community."

But the county's Social Services boss, Cllr Doreen Pollitt, has hit back at the criticism and explained that changes in social care mean less children need full-time residential care.

She said: "I can understand why the MP is upset but the owners of Nazareth House have decided to close because local authorities no longer refer children there. These days care provision is much more flexible and there are many different types of care."