THE FATHER of a profoundly disabled man who uses a day centre that is threatened with closure has thanked generous staff from the former Sainsbury's store in Worcester city centre for donating cash to the centre.

John Bradley described the £145 gift, collected on the day before the supermarket closed its doors for good in April, as a wonderful gesture from a group of people who were themselves facing uncertain futures.

He said: "They had problems of their own. Many of them had no job to go to and to do that, I think, is very generous-spirited of them."

The money will be used to pay for a gazebo, a garden table and chairs so the users of the Pershore Care Centre, Station Road, can enjoy fresh air and barbecues during the summer - although they'll have to wait for the rain to stop first.

It is a welcome lift for the friends of the centre, who have been concerned since it was revealed that Worcestershire County Council was considering whether to close the centre, expand it or let it continue as it is.

The proposals have been put forward because council chiefs believe that the centre, which costs £211,460 a year to run, is too expensive.

The three options are undergoing a formal consultation and will be discussed again by the council cabinet on Friday, September 28.

However, Mr Bradley said he was determined to keep fighting for the centre - which he describes as a "godsend" - to stay open and has already collected 4,000 signatures for a petition that he will present to the cabinet.