CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Lancashire's old people's homes today fired a warning shot to social services bosses and said: "We haven't given up yet."

And they blasted county hall chiefs for arranging a meeting of care home managers at a plush hotel to announce which homes would close -- while at the same time saying they did not have the money to keep all the homes open.

On Thursday, county councillors unveiled new plans for their 48 care homes. Instead of shutting 35, as originally announced in January, 32 will close instead, with a new one in Preston.

The new plans go out to consultation now until August 23, before a final decision on what will happen to the homes is taken by Lancashire County Council.

Lynne Atkinson, a member of the Hyndburn Action Committee which is fighting to save four homes from the chop, said: "As far as we are concerned, the fight has only just begun.

"We haven't got as long this time but we need all the support we can get.

"We have applied to Hyndburn Council for a licence to sell flags and badges in Accrington town centre to raise money from our campaign so we can seek legal advice about what is going to happen.

"They just obviously haven't listened to a word we have said." Lancashire County Council would have needed £14.5million to refurbish its 48 homes -- money it says it does not have.

"But the closure scheme could end up costing more than simply repairing all of the homes, if the authority does not get a lot of cash for the sale of the closed homes.

The cost of renovating homes and investing in new services -- such as care at home -- could be as high as £10.5million, with another £4.5million being spent on redundancy packages for the 300 staff expected to be made redundant. Care home managers were informed of the decision on which homes face the axe at a meeting at the Marriott Hotel in Preston at 8am yesterday.

In future, council care homes will be used to look after people with dementia, but no existing residents will be forced out of care.

A guarantee has also been made that residents will stay in homes within their existing borough and only move twice.

Mrs Atkinson said: "The council reckon they have no money but they go and send their managers to a posh hotel to tell them what is happening.

"I find the whole thing a disgrace. They haven't listened to us at all."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Our care homes are managed by Lancashire County Care Services and normally they will use facilities inside County Hall for meetings.

"But because County Hall was being used to brief councillors and MPs about the care home plans, it was decided to look for a venue which provided easy access to our staff from across the county.

"A discount fee was arranged with Marriott because the conference room was not being used for the full day."

Coun Chris Cheetham, in charge of social services, said: "This is not about saving money. It is about adapting services to meet demand and redirecting cash.

"We have listened because we have agreed to keep three homes open and build a new one in Preston. That is going to cost us money.

"The original plan was cost-neutral and had we not listened, we would have pushed on with the original proposal."