TOWN LEADERS have hit out at endless red tape and have urged the Government for more funding before the care home crisis deepens.

Jemima Milton, (Wroughton and Chiseldon, Con) lead member for Social Services said she believed that the department was not to blame and instead pointed the finger at central Government.

She said: "I think it is unfair to criticise Social Services when nationally they have cut 13 per cent of care home beds.

"We are doing our best to provide a decent service for our elderly residents but we keep coming up against the same hurdles. We are all very aware of the problems facing the industry.

"Local authorities across the country really need to push the Government to ensure this mess is sorted out the people who are suffering are the vulnerable people in these care homes."

Tory MP for North Wiltshire James Gray said he agreed, although he does not acknowledge the industry is facing a crisis.

He said: "Once again, the rural areas seem to be suffering the most. Social Services cannot afford the fees that are charged quite rightly by the homes. They are certainly having a tough time at the moment."

He said the Government needed to provide more cash to enable authorities to address the problem or face more closures.

"For the past five years the whole care home industry has been suffering from every increasing levels of red tape," he said.

Mr Gray said that he believed the Government interference was hindering owners and carers.

He said: "It is about time that the Government allows businesses as care homes are to run themselves.

"At the moment there is an enormous amount of target setting and paperwork in the industry. It needs to be drastically reduced," he said.

Councillor John Taylor, (Central) said more funding was crucial if the care crisis gripping Swindon was to be resolved.

He said: "I think that Social Services not only deserves but needs far more resources both in terms of funding and staffing. Caring is a very demanding occupation.

"The population is getting older all the time it is becoming even more crucial now to make sure that the local authorities have the funding so they can do their jobs," Coun Taylor said.