ELDERLY people in Worcester will have to pay double for their hot meals because of county council cuts.

The service for elderly people in sheltered accommodation across Worcestershire will be axed from June 30 this year.

Worcester Community Housing, which runs sheltered accommodation in Worcester, has agreed to keep the service going on weekdays only after funding stops. At the moment, older people can tuck into hot meals seven days a week. Meals will cost a person living in sheltered accommodation in the county £5 after June 30 - now it costs them £2.55.

Ron Chambers, chairman of the Worcestershire Pensioner's Action Group, has been fighting to save the service.

In a letter to him from Nina Chinery, supported housing manager with WCH, dated April 17, she writes that some residents have planned to order "fish and chips", travel for Sunday lunch or, if they are eligible, use the meals on wheels service.

But Mr Chambers says older people will struggle to afford meals following the cuts which will save the county council £50,000 a year. Mr Chambers, whose 87-year-old father John lives at Chelmsford Court in Ronkswood, said many of the elderly residents in sheltered accommodation will not now be able to afford a meal. He has already collected 6,000 signatures against the cuts.

The following sheltered accommodation schemes will be hit: Chelmsford Court, Rowan Court and Himbleton House in Worcester; the Heriotts in Droitwich; and Harling Court, Ledbury.

Mr Chambers said: "It says they can travel for Sunday lunch but they have to pay for the travel, too. The food is over-priced. Residents are still angry. The understanding was that when they went into sheltered accommodation, one of the things they went in there for was the meals as well as to feel secure."

Philip Gretton, of Worcestershire County Council, said meal services would still be subsidised for people in substantial need.