FUNDRAISING pensioners who sold tea and biscuits on hospital wards for years have accused health bosses of kicking them out.

The WRVS has supported Royal Blackburn Hospital and its predecessor for around 20 years, but their cafe service is now due to end.

Past and present volunteers say takings dropped dramatically after they were "hidden" in an out-of-the-way location.

They say they were denied a more prominent space, close to where private businesses paid rent, and were also prevented from advertising.

However East Lancashire Hospital's Trust stressed the decision to close lay with the WRVS, and insisted they had been supportive, charging no rent for premises they supplied.

After 18 months of losing funds in the new location, the charity's headquarters have decided to end the service at the end of the month, after takings were said to drop from £400 a day to around £70. All money raised by the WRVS in the past has gone to the hospital for buying vital equipment and supplies.

Hospital bosses first came under fire for putting an end to the volunteer's traditional trolley service, when the new hospital building opened in 2006. At the same time, volunteers were told their tea bar could continue in a rent-free space in the maternity section of the older part of Queen's Park Hospital.

At the time WRVS volunteers said that the new location was too out-of-the-way and predicted money they raised would fall dramatically. Their trolley service was taken over by a private newsagent who paid rent.

Former volunteer Barbara Shaw, 64, of Crosby Road, Blackburn, said: "I only stuck it out for six months, because it was terrible. Before, everybody knew us but no-one had a clue we even had a tea bar in the new hospital. I felt like I might just as well be home doing a bit of ironing. It's such a shame because WRVS tea bars are still going strong in lots of hospitals."

Rene Houldsworth, 80 of Revidge Road, did the trolley service at Blackburn Royal Infirmary for 22 years. She said: "I felt like we'd been sacked when the trolley round ended. I knew then that this would happen unless the volunteers were given more support."

Current volunteer Doreen Brunskill said: "The WRVS couldn't pay the rent for a more prominent space as they were asking around £1,000 a week. We also weren't allowed to advertise because that would affect the business of the cafe, which pays rent."

Helen Hedges, former vice chairman of the recently disbanded Public and Patient Involvement Forum said: "It is a tragedy that this service has to end when people are still willing to give up their free time and volunteer towards something so worthwhile. They should have been given every support."

Volunteers said the WRVS cafe had been famously cheap in past decades, but that more recently their prices had risen until they were level with private competitors in the hospital.

Regional Manager for the WRVS, Jean Le Gros said they had a good relationship with the trust and insisted the decision to close the tea bar would not affect the charity's presence in the area. She said: "The ladies currently at the hospital will now volunteer at Pendle View, which is with a different trust, but is directly across the road. "

But Coun Roy Davies, chairman of Blackburn with Darwen Council's health scrutiny committee said: "The volunteers have been treated quite shabbily."

Gary Graham, acting chief executive for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: "It is a sad day when a long working voluntary service decides to leave the Trust.

"On behalf of the Trust a farewell lunch was provided at the Grane restaurant as a thank you for all the hard work and service given over the years. On behalf of all the staff, I would like to say, thank you for your help and support over the years, it has been a pleasure working with you."