THREE mini-centres set up to lessen the impact of cuts in council warden services are to close.

Wear Valley District Council's housing committee voted to close the centres in Crook, Willington and Bishop Auckland after a report by officers said they were inefficient.

The centres were set up after 22 resident wardens were sacked to cut £144,000 from the council's housing budget, and pensioners expressed fears that the Homeline Centre in Crook was too far away from outlying areas.

But a report to the committee last night said the centres should be closed and operations centred on the Homeline control room in Crook.

Housing director Michael Laing said the flow of information had to be duplicated to each centre and staff time was wasted collecting documents and keys from the main control room.

He said response to calls was no quicker because on occasions a journey to the main centre was necessary to collect equipment or keys before assistance could be rendered.

Councillor Kathleen Parkin asked: "Why, when trying to save money, have we spent it on these mini-centres and only seven months later we are wanting to close them?''

Council leader Olive Brown said the authority had bowed to public pressure.

She said: "They said we were not listening and we did listen. That is why we put them in. Unfortunately, it appears as if it is not working.''

Margaret Taylor, from Coundon, who fought for the mini-centres after leading an unsuccessful campaign to keep the wardens, said: "I am not surprised that they are taking this tack. Despite all their promises, people are telling me that the service is not working and pensioners are not getting enough visits.''