THE proposal by Lancashire County Council to close 35 of its 48 homes for the elderly is totally unacceptable and the pathetic excuse that it would have to spend £14.5 million pounds on refurbishment to bring them up to government standards by 2007 just does not impress or convince me.

Having been in many of them recently, I don't see any need of renovation. They are nice enough as they are and should be left alone.

Shame on you, Chris Cheetham, as the executive County Councillor for Social Services, your duty is to make sure that none of these home close.

Leave the old folk as they are and do not cause hardship and possible deaths by throwing the old and vulnerable out. You will be old yourself some day. So would you like to be treated like that?

It is time to stop all these closures before it is too late as we've already had too many.

I'm still angry about Whiteacres here in Burnley closing and its old men being thrown out, despite protests. There are some things it can't buy -- such as happiness, health and peace of mind.

BRIAN WATSON, Rosehill Road, Burnley.