RESIDENTS needing non-residential care will have to pay substantially more in charges after council bosses approved plans to net them £1 million in savings a year.

And pressure groups say the new system is not foolproof.

From October 1 everyone who needs non-residential care will have to pay charges once their income exceeds a certain level as well as paying £1.50 per single journey for assisted transport.

The changes have been brought in after a lengthy consultation to try to combat rising care costs due to increases in the number of older people.

The introduction of the new payment scheme will bring Warrington into line with many other local authorities, which already charge for the services, and also comes after the council says it was criticised for failing to follow all of the Government's fair charging guidelines.

Those guidelines will ensure that service users are guaranteed an income level of £102.44 for anyone aged 25-59 and £142.56 for anyone aged 60 and over before they have to face charges.

But the Older People's Forum and OPEG, which campaigns for the rights of senior citizens, are calling on the council to make changes to the new system.

Spokesman Alfred Clemo said: "I understand that the council says it needs to make some savings but they are putting this across the whole spectrum rather than looking at each case on an individual basis. A lot of people may not be able to afford these charges."

Labour councillors have slammed the increase saying it will hit some of the town's most vulnerable and disabled adults.

Clr Terry O'Neill, Labour party leader, said: "This is the charge, charge and charge again council. Labour will speak up for the most vulnerable in our community. We will not allow the Lib Dem/Tory coalition to quietly sneak through unpopular measures without debate."

The consultation was first launched while the Labour party was still in power.