MENTALLY disabled adults who once faced losing vital day care facilities will receive specialist help.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council feared that Grangetown Day Centre, Teesside, which caters for about 100 people with learning disabilities, would have to close after Middlesbrough Borough Council withdrew its support.

The move also cast doubts over the futures of day centres at Skelton and Upsall Hall, Nunthorpe, near Middlesbrough, which Redcar and Cleveland felt unable to support due to a drop in cash.

But, staff at the three centres have breathed sighs of relief after Middlesbrough council changed its mind over withdrawing users from Grangetown in July.

They have now enlisted the help of the Shaw Trust, which specialises in employment and training schemes for the mentally disabled, to provide a better service for the 300 users.

Although details of the trust's involvement have yet to be finalised, it will begin by conducting a three-month survey starting within the year.

John Farries, the head of Redcar and Cleveland social services, welcomed the partnership as a good opportunity for future progress.

The survey will initially focus on Upsall Hall, but it is hoped that Skelton and Grangetown will be included in the next stage.

Mr Farries said it was likely to produce positive results. "The idea is that the Shaw Trust will talk to staff and service users and make recommendations on how things can be improved in the future," he said.