LOCAL parents battling to keep a children's and young adults respite care facility open have won the backing of Ledbury councillor, Liz Harvey.

Cllr Harvey, who is a county councillor for Ledbury North, said the facility, at No 1, Ledbury Road, Hereford, was "a hugely valuable facility, offering respite to many very vulnerable children with challenging health conditions and to their parents, families and carers."

She added: "A number of families local to Ledbury consider this facility to be an absolute life-line and are very concerned that the suggested replacement service, in the form of foster placement, buddying or the responsibility for personally commissioning respite services are not suitable for their needs and, most importantly, the needs and safety of their children".

The new system could come in as soon as November; but Cllr Harvey questioned the level of consultation that had taken place and said she would press "for a more satisfactory outcome to be identified".