TWO disabled pensioners have failed in their High Court bid to stop Lancashire County Council slashing provision of care for needy adults.

The women, who are in their 60s and 70s and cannot be named, brought about the challenge after the council cut its spending by 26 per cent over the next four years.

In total the cuts aim to save £179million, with a reduction of £71.6 million between 2011 and 2012.

The women were not seeking compensation but instead wanted to reverse the spending cuts.

They were backed by the National Autistic Society, deaf and blind charity, SENSE, and by Disability Equality North West.

Ian Wise QC argued that the County Council’s budgetary proposals breached its obligations to the women under the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act, a claim rejected by Mr Justice Parker.

The judge said the County Council’s proposals had to be seen in the context of the Government’s 2010 compre-hensive spending review.

The full Council adopted the revenue budget proposals on February 17, deciding to fix a budget limit for matters such as adult social care, but at this stage the issue had not been finalised and was still up for consideration by the rel-evant cabinet member.

The two women's judicial review challenge was rejected by the court.

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