It is feared cutbacks could hit the most vulnerable

Two-thirds of councils are facing an overspend in adult care services with a quarter facing deficits of over �1m, according to research by Eye on Wales.

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said the current care system was "unsustainable".

The Welsh Assembly Government said an additional �14m had been set aside.

Caerphilly County, Carmarthenshire and the Vale of Glamorgan councils all have projected overspends of over �1m, according to the research.

People like me in jobs, definitely will be at risk Dawn Gullis, MENCAP Cymru

Cardiff Council is one of the worst hit in Wales with a projected overspend of �7m.

Adding to its financial headache is the need to make savings of 21% in a package of support it buys in for people with learning difficulties, following a Welsh Assembly Government-ordered review of costs.

Dawn Gullis, campaigns officer for learning disability charity MENCAP Cymru receives two hours a day support, which she says helps her hold down her job.

She said: "People like me definitely will be at fairly high risk of losing their jobs.

"If I didn't have a job I'd go back on benefits. But there aren't much benefits to go back to."

Cardiff councillor John Dixon, executive member for health and social care, said the savings could be achieved without affecting vulnerable people.

He said: "There's no question that any individual will see any downgrading of the services or of any service they're assessed to need as part of their package of care."

'Greater difficulties'

The WLGA said it wanted a meeting with Welsh Health and Social Services Minister Brian Gibbons to discuss mounting pressures on the system throughout Wales.

WLGA director for social services and health improvement, Beverlea Frowen, said in 10 or 15 years there would be "greater difficulties" and long-term solutions were needed.

The assembly government said an additional �14m had been set aside for councils in next year's draft budget.

It said overall funding for social services had risen by more than half over the past four years and local government spending in the area exceeded �1.1bn.