A second council has decided to drop its legal challenge over plans to close 32 care homes for the elderly in Lancashire.

Burnley Council will now support Chorley Borough Council which has already applied for a judicial review.

They oppose Lancashire County Council's decision to close its care homes and provide care for old people in their own homes instead.

Burnley Council's move follows Ribble Valley's decision in November to drop its legal action because of mounting costs.

Too expensive

Burnley - which wants to cut more than �1m from its budget - faced a potential legal bill of �140,000.

The council's executive committee decided on Wednesday night that legal action would be too expensive.

But council leader Stuart Caddy said the authority would continue to fight the county council's plans.

Chorley Council's court hearing is not expected until March 2003.

'Human rights breach'

It says the closure decision was taken without the consultation process taking enough account of its concerns.

The plans will mean only 16 council-run care homes remain in Lancashire.

Residents' relatives say forcing them to move will affect their health and breaches human rights legislation.

The county council has said it will not implement its closure programme - originally scheduled for January 2003 - until the court's judgement is made.