LANCASHIRE County Council is to increase in the charges for elderly users of its day care centres who pay for the fee themselves.

Yesterday the authority's Cabinet approved the rise, to be implemented in two stages, of between £6 and £11 for dementia sufferers.

Cllr John Fillis, deputy leader of the county Labour group, described the increase as 'disgraceful'.

The rise will affect 218 elderly people whose costs are not covered by benefits who use one of 13 day centres including ones in Clitheroe, Accrington, Colne, and Bacup.

The first half of the rise will come into effect on October 1 and the second on April 1 when the state pension rates are due to rise.

Cllr Graham Gooch, county adult services boss, said: "The current day centre rates have remained unchanged since 2014, when they were brought in. They have not kept pace with the actual cost of providing care.

"We know that some people will want to reconsider their care options, which is why we're phasing in the new fees. "

Cllr Fillis said: "In total this is a 15 per cent rise which is disgraceful.

"Some user will be unable to afford it and become more isolated."