A series of meetings are to be held in a campaign opposing the transfer of the borough's 2,900 council homes to a new housing association called Chorley Community Housing.

Chorley and District Trades Union Council have called the meetings to rally opposition against the proposals.

The TUC's secretary in Chorley, Steve Turner, warned tenants would face massive increases in rent and service charges, charges for car parking, and less security in tenancy.

He also said council staff could end up being made redundant.

The council dismissed his claims and said tenants would see £60 million worth of investment in new kitchens, bathrooms and central heating, bringing their homes to meet a benchmark called the Chorley Homes Standard.

Mr Turner said: "It's a bad deal for the tenants. It will mean the watering down of tenancy agreements from secured to assured tenancies.

"The right to buy will become right to acquire, but at full market prices.

"The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, has promised to look at the fourth option of councils being allowed to borrow money, and the council should not be rushing through the proposals."

Steve Lomas, Chorley Borough Council's head of housing services, said the government has the same rules to ensure councils and housing associations set rents and service charges fairly.

The only difference would be that tenants would get more for their money.

"There has never been, nor will there ever be, any plans for introducing car parking charges as part of the transfer proposal," he added.

"Tenants' rights will be protected and it will not be possible for the new landlord to change the conditions of tenancy without their consent."

He added that council employees jobs are protected by law.

A spokesman for the Deputy Prime Minister said the fourth option did not exist. He added: "What John Prescott has said is that he will look at the whole area of financing."

The first meeting will be at St Joseph's Club, Harpers Lane, at 7.30pm on Monday, November 7. Further dates are yet to be announced.