PLANS to close old people's homes in the Durham area have been changed.

Durham County Council had originally proposed to replace 17 of its 25 homes with six new special units and four facilities for the mentally ill, resulting in 350 job losses.

But a new proposed plan would keep an extra home open and would provide more beds for the mentally ill.

The council drew up the proposals because it wants more people to live in their own homes for longer, and it wanted to avoid having to spend up to £60m to upgrade its care homes.

Next week, the council's executive committee will be recommended to approve the new plan, which follow consultations with relatives, staff, unions and health authorities.

The new two-stage plan would mean 290 job losses.

The first stage of the plan would involve the replacement of 12 homes with seven extra care units by March 2004, and vulnerable people being housed in sheltered accommodation.

The second phase would include four new units for the mentally ill, the closure of a further four homes and a programme to support people in the community.

The council leader, Councillor Ken Manton, said: "This was never going to be easy.

"But I believe what we have now will still allow us to modernise and improve our services for older people so that we have a model for the rest of the country to follow.

"The changes show we have been listening to what people have had to say."

But John Shuttleworth, Independent councillor for Weardale, warned that the demand for residential care was likely to increase.

"It may be the way forward for some people, but it is not right for everybody. There should be provision for those who need it."