THE battle to save Lancashire's care homes today went to Downing Street -- while council leaders in the county received two huge petitions showing the strength of feeling against the closures.

A delegation of care home campaigners was due outside Britain's most famous address to hand over petitions to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Burnley Mayor Gordon Birtwistle will present Coun Chris Cheetham, in charge of social services, with petitions collected as he has co-ordinated the opposition to the homes closures in Burnley.

Shirley Stocks, a member of the Save Cravenside Campaign, Barnoldswick, will present Coun Hazel Harding with around 5,000 signatures on a petition organised in the Barnoldswick area.