WAR veterans seem to have lost the campaign to keep their residential home open, but a local councillor has vowed that the fight will go on.

Liberal Democrat leader Coun Gordon Birtwistle told a Burnley Council committee meeting he would join residents of the all-male Lancashire County Council-owned Whiteacres home in chaining themselves to the railings rather than let the home close.

And today he said: "If the residents still have the energy to fight then I will back them all the way.

"They will have to unchain me along with some of the residents if they want to get us out.

"It is absolutely disgraceful that they are putting money before old men of this town who have fought in wars for their country and our freedom.

"We have a Labour Government, a Labour county council and a Labour borough council and they are kicking old fellows out of their home. It is nothing short of criminal."

Petitions containing thousands of signatures, calling for the home to be kept open, were sent to the social services committee along with many letters. Burnley Council recommended keeping the home open because of its unique status as the only male home in Lancashire.

But the social services working party which recommended closing three homes, including Whiteacres, and changing the use of three others.

Social services chairman County Coun Doreen Pollitt said: "We did take on board the views of the residents and their relatives and we will be looking to set up a smaller male-only unit in Burnley.

"Within the phased closure we will also hoping to relocate residents within their friendship groups which have been established during their time at Whiteacres.

"The building will be sold and the proceeds will stay within social services. It will help to set up the smaller male only unit.

"The running costs of Whiteacres, because it was an adapted building, were too high."

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