A DAY centre that looks after sufferers of Alzheimers Dis-ease in Bromyard is to close.

For four years, up to eight sufferers have received support at Buttsfield House once a week.

Now, a refusal by the Primary Care Trust to pay the required funding for five Herefordshire centres, will mean three will close, including Bromyard.

Instead, funding is being sought to extend the numbers able to attend the Ledbury day centre, and to extend Hereford services.

Bromyard co-ordinator Joyce Walker said: "From local people's point of view it's yet again another reduction in services for the elderly. It's a reduction in mental health services."

She said centre users were saddened by the impending closure.

"The clients will be upset that they will not be able to go out for a day but it's probably as much the families that will suffer. If you're with someone seven days a week with memory problems it can be quite traumatic."

The situation has arisen because statutory health departments cannot now receive charitable grants.

In recent years Herefordshire Alzheimers Society has boosted its £30,000 health service funding with £20,000 charity money.

This year it sought to increase its funding from the PCT to £77,000. The dramatic increase is one the trust is unable to take on.

Society treasurer Alison Smith said: "The trouble is that we were not only asking for the amount that it costs to run a service but a bit more because the dependency level of people we look after has gone up."

She said some of those who attend the Bromyard centre would be accommodated at Ledbury and at the community hospital.

"We're looking at people who will not have a service after March 31. On the whole we've found something for everybody. We're forging ahead to do this as best we can."

On Monday, Bromyard Town Council asked people to write to the PCT and to their MP on the matter.