County councillors in Lancashire have discussed the response to plans to close the majority of its care homes.

The council has already approved the closure of 32 of the county's 48 residential homes.

But at the meeting on Thursday, it was decided that the transition period for the controversial plans would be extended.

The meeting at County Hall was broadcast live on the Lancashire County Council website.

Legal advice

The council wants elderly people to be cared for in their own homes rather than in council-run centres.

But residents' relatives claim forcing them to move will affect their health and breaches human rights legislation.

The cabinet member for social services, Chris Cheetham, told the meeting that the transition period will now be extended from three or four years to five.

District councils in the county are taking legal advice to stop the care homes closures.