A CHADDESLEY Corbett mother of two disabled sons was left frantic with worry after she was mistakenly told a transport service which provides her with a lifeline was being cut.

Valerie Borland, 65, who has brought up her two sons on her own, received a letter last week from Worcestershire County Council social services telling her the department would no longer provide the transport for her son Clive, 45, to attend Meadow Mill Day Centre in Dixon Street, Kidderminster.

However, it later emerged the letter had been sent to Mrs Borland, who receives just £25 a week carers' allowance for looking after Clive and Ian, 43, by mistake and should only have gone out to private residential homes.

Mrs Borland, of The Green, said: "I was extremely worried and upset because I don't drive and there is no way I could have afforded the £14 taxi fair to send Clive. He has quite severe learning disabilities and could not possibly go on a bus on his own. I didn't know what I was going to do.

"Even if it was a mistake I wish they had taken the trouble to check who they were sending the letter to before they sent it. It just said 'the manager'," added Mrs Borland, who said several frantic calls to social services seeking clarification had not been returned.

However, when the Shuttle/ Times & News contacted the department they were told the letter had been sent in error.

A Worcestershire County Council spokeswoman said: "It was an administrative error by a temporary employee. We are really sorry Mrs Borland had this experience and wish to reassure her transport will still be provided free for her son."

She said, however, that from December social services would no longer be providing free transport for clients of large, private residential homes to attend social services day centres.