ELDERLY and disabled people are set to lose a lifeline in a cost-cutting exercise.

People who use Dorset's day centres are being told they no longer fit the criteria and must stop going.

A social services driver, who did not want to be named, said: "We've been taking people home in tears.

"They've been told that they can't come to the day centres any more because they don't fit the criteria. One woman has been coming to the centre for 15 years. It's the only time she leaves the house and it's her lifeline."

The criteria, affecting centres including Fairfield on Portland, Acorns and Fernhill in Weymouth and Dorchester Day Centre, are part of a social services shake-up.

In October Dorset County Council decided to stop offering care services to people deemed to have 'low' or 'moderate' levels of need.

From now on, services and funding will only be available to people whose needs are 'substantial' or 'critical'.

Our source said: "We believe these people's needs are substantial.

"I pick people up on Monday and they say they haven't seen anybody since I dropped them home last Wednesday.

"These people are in tears all the way home and it seems to us they're being sent home to die."

He continued: "The council has changed the name from Dorset Social Services to Social Health and Care.

"They've spent thousands of pounds changing signs and our uniform logos but I don't think they are living up to the new name because any social care has gone.

"If they have to change the criteria why not do it gradually? They could leave the people who are there and bring these extra criteria in when new people join."

He added: "A couple of us have written to management asking what's going on but all they'll say is they need to make cutbacks. Something really needs to be done."

Head of business and resources in adult and community services Steve Clements said: "The county council regrets having to take this step, which has been driven by budget pressures. However it is right to focus limited resources on those people in most need.

"It is distressing to hear that some people have gone home in tears, particularly if their needs have not in fact been reviewed.

"If this is the case they should get in touch with their local office where someone can advise when such a review may take place.

"On the subject of uniforms and signs, the Social Care and Health Directorate is now known as the Adult and Community Services Directorate. There are no plans to change names on uniforms, signs, or forms except through natural turnover. The county council is well aware of the need to channel resources into frontline services."