DESPERATE tenants are calling for Bromsgrove District Council "to go quietly" after experts failed to convince them the extra service charges they face are justified.

Yesterday saw the last of a series of visits by the authority's officers to sheltered housing residents to explain the council's plans to charge them separately for extra services.

These include laundry rooms and warden services. Until now, the costs were footed by rents across the board.

Under Government legislation, the changes have to be in place by 2003 but tenants claim the increases are unfair and vowed to move a vote of no confidence against councillors.

Bromsgrove District Tenants' Association vice-chairman Dennis Wheatley said nothing has changed since the talks and called for council leader Cllr Nick Psirides and councillors to stand down.

He said: "They have failed to convince us the imposition of service charges is justified and officers were met with hostility at these meetings.

"Pensioners are in despair at having to be means tested for the first time in their lives.

"Cllr Psirides should take his council and go quietly before the people of Bromsgrove make him.

"Before he departs he should straighten up the accounts so they are acceptable to the auditors."

Cllr Psirides (Con, Norton) said: "The Government has put us in this position.

"If there is enough call from residents that they do not want the warden service we shall decommission it at one of the blocks and move those people in."