SOCIAL Services executive member Councillor Sue Wright sounded upset when she spoke at the meeting of the council's move to continue with the cuts in residential care provision.

She said it was with regret that the plans were made.

"If I had the choice I would not do it but I believe the consultation had to take place," she said.

Steve Pullen, Director of Social Services, explained that the demand for council run homes was no longer there.

"Research shows that people would rather stay in their own homes using the help of social services," he said. "The closures are necessary to raise the quality of care in Blackpool."

Mr Pullen explained that the council felt it could not compete with the private sector for providing care.

"We can now buy in care for private organisations cheaper than we can provide it as a council," he said at an earlier meeting.

"But this is not an issue of saving money, it is about quality and increasing the standards.

"We are just not offering the same level of care as the private sector can do and people are choosing private care over the service we offer."