PATIENTS left a meeting in tears after health bosses decided to close a loss-making home for people with eating disorders.

Burnley Health Trust chiefs made the decision after hearing the converted house in Reedley, opened just two years ago, was losing about £24,000 a month and closure was inevitable to protect other mental health services.

They resisted pleas from families of patients who described the service as superb and called for it to be retained.

Today patient watchdog chief Coun Frank Clifford, chairman of Burnley Community Health Council, said he would be seeking legal advice before deciding whether to lodge a legal challenge to the planned July 31 closure.

At yesterday's trust board meeting, non-executive director Coun Kath Reade said the shutdown was a tragedy.

She said: "Health is more important than money. Unfortunately we have to make decisions based on money and that is the wrong way round."

Health chiefs heard the clinic, which currently has only one inpatient, hit cash problems after health purchasers from other districts turned to other services.

Trust chief executive David Chew said that when the unit, which treats illnesses such as bulimia and anorexia, was first set up, it drew in huge amounts of cash from outside authorities seeking its services, but there had been a sea change in demand and income was drying up.

Earlier, Mr Chew told community health councillors that the service was heading for a £240,000 deficit this year and action had to be taken to protect other services. The centre needed 80 per cent occupancy to be viable, but the level now was nearer 40 per cent.

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