MORE than 100 old people face an uncertain future today as four council-run care homes are earmarked for closure.

And Help the Aged is warning the plans would be traumatic for residents and cause a major upheaval.

Blaenau Gwent council runs five homes with a total of 142 residents: Cartref Aneurin Bevan in Tredegar; Crawshay House in Brynmawr; Cwrt Mytton in Abertillery; Hafod Dawel in Nantyglo; and Plas Y Coed in Ebbw Vale.

A report says four of them should be axed, with one "as soon as is practicable". A lack of demand for council places because more elderly people want care in their own homes, is being blamed. In February there were 42 vacancies in the homes.

The council, which spends £3.7million a year on placing people in its homes, would also have to find more cash to bring the buildings up to acceptable standards if they were to remain open.

Cwrt Mytton, which has space for 36 residents, appears to be the home most likely to survive. It is described as the most modern of the five homes and includes a facility for dementia care.

Blaenau Gwent's council leader, John Hopkins, said: "The days of getting everyone in a home and leaving them there is old hat. People are living longer and we need to give them a choice.

"If homes are to close it's going to be after consultation with the residents and their families."

He said no homes would close until all residents had found new homes.

Councillors say they do not have the money to revamp the buildings and face a battle to compete with private homes which have better facilities.

A spokesman for Help the Aged Wales warned of a major upheaval for old people.

He said: "It could be they have made friends in the home and are happy and settled.

"They might have built up relationships and got used to their own routine."

A special meeting of Blaenau Gwent council's social care and inclusion scrutiny committee is being held on Thursday to discuss the proposals.