ELDERLY and disabled people in Worcester sheltered housing are planning to question the board of their housing association about a new warden scheme.

People living in six groups of sheltered housing have been told their resident wardens will be replaced in April by teams of wardens covering areas of the city.

But many of them, including 92-year-old Beattie Thompson, of Brookthorpe Close, Warndon, turned out to protest last week.

Chief executive Stewart Mountfield met the elderly and disabled placard-waving protesters, who had braved the cold, outside the headquarters of Worcester Community Housing in Farrier Street and told them he was prepared to go to any meeting they arranged. As a result, they have issued invitations to all members of the board to attend their next residents' meeting in Furness Close, Brickfields, on Monday, February 6.

The meeting will be chaired by Ron Chambers, who said residents would have the opportunity to ask questions.

"We would particularly like to know where the teams of wardens will be based and whether anyone has timed the journey from their base to the housing schemes at different times of day," he said.

"There are worries that it will take too long for a warden to respond when they are needed."

More than 600 people had signed a petition against the plans for the six sheltered schemes in the city.

Others have written to the Queen, Prime Minster Tony Blair and Worcester MP Mike Foster, who has supported residents, to oppose the project.