At a meeting on Monday, county councillors said plans to close hospital wards in favour of more emphasis on care in the community, were unacceptable.

The North Cumbria Mental Health Trust wants to close wards in Penrith and west Cumbria, and spend more money looking after patients at home.

Anyone who needed hospital treatment would be cared for in Carlisle.

Some people have raised concerns that it would be too far for some patients and their relatives to travel.

The health trust has held a series of meetings to try to convince people that its plans will improve patient care.

But the county council's Copeland Local Committee said that without clear progress in the development of community based mental health services they would be unable to support the proposals.