Protestors urged councillors to save the care homes

Either Nant Silyn or Llys Madoc were earmarked for closure in plans to save more than �1m over three years.

The issue was discussed by the council's executive board on Tuesday when they looked at their budget.

Wrexham Council's deputy leader Ted George successfully urged the authority to reconsider the closure.

Goodness knows what will happen to me if it closes, we'll have to wait and see Haydn Evans, Llys Madoc resident

The local authority had proposed to close either 29-bedroomed Nant Silyn in Whitegate on the outskirts of Wrexham town centre, or Llys Madoc in Plas Madoc, which has 26 beds.

At present neither home is full and there are 13 vacancies.

Councillors were told that it currently costs �900 per week for each resident compared with �300 in the private sector.

Standing in the cold on Tuesday, 80-year-old Haydn Evans, a resident of Llys Madoc said he was "worried" about his future.

"Goodness knows what will happen to me if it closes, we'll have to wait and see," he said.

"It is worrying, it's worrying everybody, we're used to the home."

Andrew Figiel, the council's chief social services officer, has previously said the authority was looking at a package of cost-cutting measures because of budget constraints and an increase in the number of elderly people living in the county.

"Older people tell us that they want to remain at home for as long as possible and to maintain their independence and they want choice," he said.

Haydn Evans, 80, was worried about his future

Research conducted by the council suggests that by 2024 the over-85s in Wrexham will increase by 60%.

The council needs to save an initial �380,000, and over three years some �1m.

The plans had worried staff, clients and their families.

Melvyn Ollier's 84-year-old mother is cared for at Nant Silyn home. He said he had chosen not to tell her about the closure plan.

"I'm frightened to death of telling her in case something happens," he said.

"She's been cared for, for 14 years and this is the third local authority home she's been in.

In 2001, the council closed Erddig and Greenacres care home.

A worker at Llys Madoc who wanted to remain anonymous said the most vulnerable people in society are being affected most.

"It's wrong. A tenant in a house has rights - if he pays his rent he doesn't get chucked out. The old people pay their way so why should the council have the right to turn round and say we're going to evict you?"

The budgetary constraints placed on social services will now be discussed at a later date by the scrutiny committee.