ELDERLY people's hot meals services have been saved in Malvern and Droitwich, it was announced yesterday.

Scores of residents at the Heriotts, in Droitwich, and at Alexander Gardens and Stores Court in Malvern, will all continue to enjoy their daily hot lunches despite Worcestershire County Council cut-backs.

Festival Housing, the parent company of the Elgar Housing Association which runs the sheltered housing units, has announced it will keep funding the 1,000 meals its kitchens produce each week when the council withdraws its subsidy in June, albeit at a reduced level and with prices increased by a third.

Peter Gill, director of care and support at Festival, said: "We're pleased to be able to step in and ensure our residents and others in the community will continue to receive the hot meals.

"This is a real life-line for the older people in our properties and we will do all we can to save this service."

Hot lunch clubs are set to close at sheltered housing units across the county this summer when the county council cuts its subsidy for the service to save £50,000.

But at Festival's homes the freshly-cooked meals will continue, although they will only be available five days a week.

The price of each meal to residents will also increase from £3 to £4. A spokesman for the housing group said: "We will have to make efficiencies in the kitchen and on staff hours, but we consulted the residents and they agreed they would rather pay a bit more for a reduced service than lose the meals altogether."

The group will also continue to produce hot meals for Friends of the Elderly and Age Concern in Malvern and Droitwich.

Sally Yeomans, senior housing support worker at Alexander Gardens, said: "We're really pleased a five-day service is going to remain. The residents have been very worried.

"Our residents are very elderly and it isn't just the nutritional value of having a fresh, hotly-cooked meal every day, though that's very important - it's the social side of it as well.

Her words were echoed by Ron Chambers, chairman of the Worcestershire Pensioners' Action Group, which is campaigning against the cuts.

"I'm very pleased they're carrying on doing the meals - I think it's brilliant," he said.

"However, were still pushing the council to continue funding the service after June."