A MAJOR shake-up of home helps and care homes for the elderly in Lancashire is set to take place next year.

Lancashire County Council is planning a wide-ranging review of both services following the shake-up in local government and recent changes to the law.

County Hall is set to lose about a quarter of its home helps and care homes to Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen in April.

The two authorities will take control of social services when they win unitary status. And the Government has also announced the end of compulsory competitive tendering.

The unpopular system is being replaced under New Labour's 'best value,' initiative which will force councils to provide the best service for the cash available.

Social services chairman Doreen Pollitt, denied the shake-up of the service is linked to a cash crisis at County Hall.

She said: "We will be taking a closer look at our domiciliary care service and residential homes over the next 12 months. We will be running 54 of these homes after the council is down-sized and there is a need for a review of the service."

Coun Pollitt added: "We have to look at devising a long term strategy if we want to provide the best possible service.

"There may well be changes over the coming 12 months, but we have to look at the best way of providing the service."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.