THE credit crunch has been blamed for the failure to find buyers for a £3.6million sell off of council care homes.

Opposition councillors said the lack of interest could stop residents and the council getting a good deal.

As part of a major shakeup of adult social care, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s supported living, home care services and residential homes are to be sold off in a bid to reduce debts of £5million.

The three homes - Blakewater Lodge, Swallow Drive, Lark Hill, Brookside Home for the Elderly, Pearl Street, Roe Lee, and Feniscliffe Bank Home for the Elderly, Hillcrest Road, Cherry Tree, were put on the market for a total of £3.6million in April through specialist healthcare consultants Pinkertons.

But speaking at a recent Council Forum meeting David Foster, executive member for adult social care, confirmed just one “serious offer” to buy the three had been received.

He said: “There’s not been a falling off of interest. We’ve only ever had one serious offer for all three. It’s a serious offer that we are giving serious thought to.

“We have a responsibility to provide residential care for people already there. We also want value for money and we have to balance those two criteria.”

Labour adult social spokesman Dave Hollings said: “It’s not as attractive as it was previously because property prices are falling.”

Of the 35 care homes in the borough, five are council-run. The council intends to keep hold of the other two - which provide respite services to give a break to carers and temporary care for patients leaving hospital.

Brian Todd, of the Older People’s Forum, said he opposed the privatisation of care services.

He added: “I don’t see how you can have a tendering process when there’s just one bidder.

"But the way of the world is that the bean counters are in charge and money rules.”