A BLACKBURN councillor is urging big businesses to open granny creches in a bid to stop "unnecessary heartache" in the lives of old people. Jack Bury, ward councillor for Higher Croft, said a lot of unhappiness was caused when families were forced into put their elderly parents into care homes because they couldn't look after them all day.

He was full of praise for a scheme launched at the Peugeot car plant in Coventry, which offered a day-care centre for workers to drop off elderly parents for the day.

Coun Bury added: "The council is keen to support any projects which can keep elderly people in the community. Often, old people are faced with the prospect of having to sell their home and belongings so they can afford residential care. Situations like this can make old age an extremely unpalatable time of life for many."

The centre - which has been dubbed a Granny creche - costs £30 a day, which includes meals.

Users of the centre have praised the facility for keeping the family unit together, and Coun Bury urged local businesses to consider launching their own schemes.

He added: "Unfortunately, such schemes can be costly to set up and there isn't enough money for it to be funded by the public purse."

A spokeswoman for the Motor and Allied Trade Benevolent Fund said: "We have enquiries from all over the country about how this scheme works and I am sure many more will spring up in the near future."

"With the number of old people rocketing all the time, it is important something is done to cater for the older generations."

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