A COUNCIL today promised its pensioners that they would not suffer when a warden call centre is privatised later this year.

Last week, Hyndburn Council revealed its plans because it cannot afford to bring it up to national standards.

The warden call monitoring service provides support for OAPs living in council-owned accommodation.

Wardens attend their homes when they pull emergency cords or ask for visits to be made.

Under Hyndburn Council's plans, monitoring would be dealt with by a call centre run by a private firm -- and they could be based anywhere in the country.

It would cost £40,000 to upgrade the service to national standards -- money which the council does not have.

The council expects to spend about £10,000 a year on contracting-out the service, with a saving of £16,591 on the amount spent currently.

That sum will be spent on more wardens.

Opposition councillors have expressed concern at the scheme, as have union stewards, who fear jobs could be lost.

They also believe it will lead to a poorer service because the local knowledge of residents and the area would be lost.

But today, the leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, Councillor Peter Britcliffe, pledged a better service for the area's old folk.

He said: "I am concerned that elderly people who use the warden service feel they will be affected by changes which are having to be made on the directive of central government.

"The proposed changes came about as a result of the Best Value initiative, imposed on us by the Government, which insists we review all services to see how they can be improved.

"As part of this review, we looked at the warden service and also asked people who use the service, how we could improve it.

"A large majority said they would prefer more wardens.

"By externalising the call centre, we will be saving money, which in turn, can be spent on providing more wardens.

"So, in my opinion, people living in warden-controlled homes will not be affected by this move.

"In fact, they will receive a better service."

Members of the Labour Party have expressed concern to the scheme.

"The council spent £40,000 on hiring extra staff for the area councils," said group leader Ian Ormerod.

"That money could have been used to keep this service and the local knowledge which the call centre staff have."