RELATIVES of people living in five doomed residential homes for the elderly in Darlington have spoken out against the closures.

Families are unhappy that Darlington Borough Council did not listen to their views when it decided to press ahead with the closure of the homes.

Relatives were included in the consultation process, but despite widespread opposition the council still plans to close Gladstone Hall, Moorcroft, Neville House, The Lawns and Westfields House.

People are also angry that the authority's social affairs and health scrutiny committee failed to question the closures. Dave Cooke, whose mother Mary lives at Neville House, described the committee meeting as a 'sham.'

He said: "I thought the scrutiny committee was meant to be probing and challenging, but all it is doing is paying lip service to the cabinet."

Darlington council says the closures are necessary because none of the homes would meet new Government guidelines on council-owned residential homes.

Legislation coming into force in April 2002 demands that local authority homes either modernise or face closure.

It has been estimated that bringing the homes up to standard would cost the council £4.5m.