PROTESTERS gathered outside a home for the elderly and promised to continue to fight against its closure and the "privatisation" of 54 other homes cross the county.

About 20 campaigners protested outside the gates of Whiteacres, Lansdowne Close, Burnley, on Saturday over Lancashire County Council's decision to shut it and five other homes in a cost-cutting exercise.

The protest was organised by the Burnley and Lancashire associations of the TUC to show support for publicly provided care and decent employment conditions for care workers.

Tom Fallows, president of the Burnley association, said: "We are very upset that people are being moved when they are settled and don't want to move.

"They've been asked to move four or five miles away where they don't know the surroundings, where there are staff they don't know and where they will be very uncomfortable.

"It will be a sad day when the people of this home have to leave, but you can't fight forever. When they leave they will go with dignity."

Peter Billington, secretary of the Lancashire association, added: "We are very concerned that if the privatisation is not stopped the quality of care in the homes and the wages and conditions of the care workers will rapidly deteriorate."

Residents at Whiteacres have accepted alternative accommodation at Woodside Home for the Elderly.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.