MORE than £1million is set to be spent on emergency repairs to Lancashire's care homes to stop health and safety officials from shutting them down.

Rotting window frames, faulty fire alarms and electrical problems have been highlighted after a Health and Safety Executive inspection of the 48 Lancashire County Council-run homes.

Thirty-five are earmarked for closure as part of a shake-up of its services for old people.

Leader of the council Hazel Harding today said the repairs would not save, nor condemn, the targeted homes.

But Pendle county councillor and Lib Dem leader at County Hall Coun David Whipp said: "The Labour group are now running around like headless chickens.

"They have under-invested for so long that they thought they would have a situation where they would have no choice but to close the homes.

"But the fierce opposition to the closures has meant they dare not shut them down and they have had to spend this money."

A private study last year revealed £14.5million had to be spent on the homes to bring them up to government standards and for refurbishments to be carried out.

Council bosses claimed they did not have the money and unveiled plans to close the homes, 19 of which are in East Lancashire, to fund repairs in the remaining ones and improve home care services.

But following the councillors have had to dip into their contingency fund to start the repairs immediately.

Repairs to homes were halted in 1999 when the Government announced new care home standards.

County Hall bosses did not want to spend money refurbishing premises only for them to close.

This year, just £200,000 was included in the budget for care homes and that money will be spent on design fees for improvements.

Burnley county councillor and cabinet member for resources Tony Martin is due to rubberstamp the spending of £1.275million for essential maintenance tomorrow.

Coun Martin said: "I have said all along that we are engaged in a very real consultation with the people of Lancashire.

"I am now putting my money where my mouth is to ensure that none of our homes would be forced to close prematurely because of their condition.

"We care about the conditions in which our residents live, and I will not countenance any of the people we care for being in below par accommodation -- however superficial are the necessary repairs.

"This commitment proves what I have said all along that no decisions have been taken about the future of our homes."

Leader of Lancashire County Council Hazel Harding said: "This is, and always has been, a consultation process so no decisions have been made.

"It could be a long process and we may be talking four years before any homes do close.

"While people are in Lancashire County Council homes, it is our job to ensure they are safe, and these are essential repairs."

Coun Whipp added: "They said they couldn't find any of the £14.5million needed. They have found £1million, they just need to keep on going."