AMID government panic over public clamour about uncaring 'Big Brother' stance, the Health Secretary announces that the costly impositions set to be foisted on care homes for the elderly by The Care Standards Act are no longer to be mandatory, but will be guidelines only.

But it as another U-turn too late for so many elderly who have already been evicted from what had become their homes, because of the panic instigated by this ill-thought-out Act.

Yet, there may still be hope if the Labour councillors at County Hall and their mandarins stop and re-think and admit they have got it wrong and for once be grown-up enough to find a way to keep open most of their care homes, or, alternatively, seek a method of establishing a care homes association on the lines of municipal housing associations.

WALT MEADOWS, Whalley New Road, Blackburn.