CASH strapped council chiefs are to close a popular day centre for people with learning disabilities.

Whittle Pike in Ramsbottom is targeted for closure as social services chiefs start a shake-up of day services.

They want to change the way services for people with learning disabilities are run in the borough by having a more community-based "Outreach" system. They need to close Whittle Pike to pay for the shake-up.

The news caused massive upset among the 30-plus people who attend the centre when the news was broken yesterday.

Mrs Jean Greener, whose daughter Clare is one of the centre users, said: "There were tears, and a lot of upset people - one girl even had a panic attack.

"They want to stay there, not be put out to different centres. Outreach sounds fine on paper, but there are a lot of drawbacks in practice."

The council have promised to consult everyone as part of the review, and a meeting will be held at Whittle Pike on Monday (August 18) at 7.30pm.

Coun John Costello, chairman of social services, said: "To do nothing is not an option. The centres are already full.

"I realise the anxieties which any proposed changes to current services can cause, but I want to reassure the people of Bury, and in particular all those who use and rely on the current day services, that this consultation exercise is a very real one designed to ensure everyone has their say."

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