PENSIONERS facing eviction from Blackpool's council-run homes are threatening to sabotage the illuminations switch-on ceremony in a last-ditch attempt to force the council into a U-turn.

Around 250 angry residents of the eight homes earmarked for closure will stage a massive demonstration in Talbot Square on September 1, just two days after the executive committee meets to rubber stamp the proposed closures.

This comes in the wake of pensioners being told to start looking NOW for new homes and the council serving notice on several members of staff at the homes.

Stephen Bate, one of the founders of CARE, the Caring Alliance for Rest Home Elderly, said the protest was just one of a number of measures they have planned to raise the profile of the pensioners' plight.

"We are so angry about how the council is going about things and we are hoping that the threat of the disruption will make them see we will not sit back and let them treat us in this way," he said. CARE is organising legal help for the residents and a barrister was due to meet with people from each of the homes today (Thursday). Mr Bate said representatives from social services had visited the rest homes last week advising the residents that they should be looking for alternative accommodation now, before a lot of the private sector rest homes become full.

"People in the homes are panicking because they think they are going to end up homeless," said Mr Bate.

"Social services bosses have been telling residents that closing the homes is like closing a shop that is not taking any money. They are being forced out."

UNISON claim the move by the council is purely financial and they stood to gain £1.35 million from the sale of the land.

Staff have now been made redundant at the homes as the council proceeds with its plans.

Care assistant Suzanne Elliott, who works at Kipling Manor, was served with three weeks' notice yesterday (Wednesday).

She said: "I am devastated. It seems to me that the homes closures are now going to go through regardless. I am worried about the level of care the residents will receive if staff are made redundant."

Executive member of social services and housing Councillor Sue Wright said the council had not sought a figure for the sale of the properties and no decision had yet been made to close the homes.

"Nothing stands still in the local authority and research proves that people now want to stay in their own homes for as long as they can. We have to look at the future.

"Social services staff have been visiting the homes and are making consultations and assessments on every resident.

"Staff are supposed to be dealing with this in a sensitive manner. I cannot comment on Mr Bate's allegations. I have not heard about these," she said.