ANGRY throngs of banner-waving demonstrators gathered outside the town hall yesterday (July 5) to protest about Blackpool Borough Council's plans to close six out of the eight council-owned residential homes.

During the debate councillors were heckled from the public gallery and Labour members were blasted as being "morally bankrupt" by the Tories while outside protestors made their feelings clear in scenes like the one pictured here.

Walking sticks were clattered on the backs of chairs and desk tops slammed, making the meeting the loudest and most inflamed since Labour gained control in 1991.

Pensioners and carers from all eight homes plus residents from Crichton House -- also under threat of closure -- were calling for acting Labour council leader George Bancroft to step down over the plans.

The council was met with booing and jeering and chants of "Bancroft out" from the public gallery.

But the committee voted to press on with recommendations for the planned closure of the homes regardless of intense public opposition.

The issue was originally due to be dealt with in private but the council was forced into a last minute U-turn after heavy pressure from the public brought the closures to the top of the agenda. The final decision on the closures will now be made at the next meeting of the full council later this month.

Elderly and infirm residents of Kipling Manor, Lowmoor Manor, Warren Manor, Ashfield House, Cherry Tree House and Whitegate Manor, will be forced out of their homes and rehoused in the private sector if the closures go ahead. Care assistants and families of the pensioners are angry at what some describe as "the council's total lack of compassion."

"The council doesn't seem to realise that it is people's lives they are dealing with," said Barry Harper, a care assistant at Kipling Manor.

"When people come to live at one of these homes we make it special for them.

"We are told to reassure people and to tell them that it will be their home for the rest of their lives.

"Now the council has told them they are going to have to leave. They are pulling the rug from under their feet. It's disgusting."

In the meeting, Coun Peter Callow, leader of the Conservatives, accused the council of being "not only financially bankrupt but morally bankrupt" in his attack on chairman Coun Bancroft.

And pensioner Alice Hill received a standing ovation after shouting from the public gallery: "If you have any guts you'll tell us you've changed your minds."

In a later outburst, the 92-year-old resident of Whitegate Manor shouted to Coun Bancroft: "Is this the way you treated your mother?"

Feelings ran high throughout the one-and-a-half-hour meeting.

Afterwards, Hazel Linley, third officer in charge at Hoyle House, said: "If some of these people die when they are being moved I hope the council face up to being responsible."