A DAY centre in Pershore described as a godsend' for people with profound physical and learning difficulties is facing an uncertain future.

Four people have used the Pershore Day Service for more than 10 years but now Worcestershire County Council is proposing to change the way it operates because it says it is costing too much money.

The centre was discussed at the council's cabinet yesterday, when Coun Liz Tucker, who has worked with the families of the users for more than 15 years, said the service had been a godsend.

"According to these proposals, there is provision in Evesham, Malvern and Worcester that could provide the right care in the community for the current users at Pershore - you will have to convince me of this," she said.

The Pershore day centre is in Station Road and is managed as a satellite unit of the larger Evesham Day Service.

It costs £211,640 a year to run, with seven staff and provision for seven users. But with only four users, each place costs £52,910 per year. The average cost of other learning disability day services within the county is £11,267 per place per year.

Now director of adult and community services Jennie Bashforth has put forward three options for the centre's future - for it to continue as it is, to expand or be closed and its users moved elsewhere.

Mrs Bashforth said: "When the service was set up there were very few options for day services for people with more profound and multiple disabilities and the provision met a need in the county that enabled those families to continue their caring role using local and needs-led services.

"During the last decade there has been a growth of provision for this client group and some of the larger day services now provide day care to people with more profound disabilities. This means they are subject to a wider range of experiences, stimulation and social contact.

"While a case can be made to provide more localised and smaller service, such services do need to be cost-effective."

Exploration of the options is at an early stage and will take into account the views of service users and their families, before going out to formal consultation.