Baytree House in Torquay, which is run by the Torbay Care Trust, provides residential and respite care.

The home has been earmarked to close because adult social services in Torbay is to have its budget cut by �3.2m.

Parents and users are angry at the plans. The trust said the cut was part of council savings plans but it hoped to keep their impact to a minimum.

Petition plans

Terri Harding's daughter, Madeline, keeps her up most nights because of her care needs.

Ms Harding said the respite care enabled her to get some sleep a couple of nights a week, and that the plans would eventually cost more than the savings made.

She said: "If they think they are going to save money by closing Baytree down, they are going to spend an awful lot more sending clients out of town or even out of the county for the much-needed respite care that parents need."

Staff and users of Baytree House have said they are not going to give up easily and they are putting together a petition as part of their fight to save the home.

Campaigner Neil Harvey said: "I don't like people upsetting my friends, and that's what has been done.

"They've upset me, they've upset my friends, they've upset the clients and we're going to fight it all the way."

The trust said the budget cuts were a blow, and it was concerned at how it could make its promised improvements in performance while cutting costs.

The trust said no final decision had been made.