Five drop-in centres across the county will replace the current facilities.

The council says the new set-up will cater for more individual needs.

But those who depend on the centres - where patients can interact with each other and learn new skills - say the closures will result in more isolation for individuals.

A group of patients from the Ambrose Lloyd Centre in Mold marched through the streets on Monday morning.

Maria Davies, who has used the three-day-a-week centre for 10 years, said: "We've been told it will promote independence in the community, but we already live in our own homes and do our own things.

Safe place

"But we do rely on a centre like this for support. There'll be a lot of isolation and what they are offering is not enough."

She said the centre's three-days-a-week provision enables patients to socialise, use computer facilities and take part in activities like art classes.

A spokesman for Flintshire Council Council said the changes had modernised the services, and were in line with the Welsh Assembly Government's long-term health vision.

He said: "The consultation review has recognised the importance of people with mental health problems having a safe place which they can go to share support and this will be maintained in the redesigned services."

The centres being closed are the Ambrose Lloyd Centre in Mold, and centres at Wepre Drive in Connah's Quay, and The Mews in Holywell.