THE uncertain future of a Worcestershire day centre will be discussed today by Worcestershire County Council.

For more than 10 years the Pershore Day Service, which operates from the town's day centre, has supported four people with profound physical and learning difficulties from the county.

But the county council wants to close the centre, which costs £211,640 a year to run, because it says it costs too much money.

Today cabinet members will decide whether to have a second consultation exercise, following an informal exercise with carers, staff, union representatives, councillors and The Friends of Pershore Service at the end of last year.

There are three options on the table if the cabinet agrees to a consultation exercise. The third, which is the council's preferred option, is to look at providing services for the service's users in a different way and close the centre.

Stephen Chandler, head of health and social care, said: "If cabinet agrees to a formal consultation period, then we believe that option three maximises available resources, not only for those four service users, but could also benefit others with learning disabilities. The vacated building could be used as accommodation for supported living.

"Option one would see no change to the service and option two would involve increasing the number of people accessing the centre.

The council says of the four users, only one lives in Pershore. It says similar services are available in Evesham, Malvern and Worcester, where the rest come from.