TEARFUL parents made an impassioned plea to Worcestershire County Council bosses to save a Kidderminster respite care unit.

Amanda Danby and Tracey Rochelle were given a round of applause each at the authority’s full council meeting when they set out the importance of retaining Ludlow Road Short Breaks Centre where her son Mason attends.

A consultation into the future of the centre concluded this week and responses are now being reviewed.

But news of the possible closure sparked a huge campaign by Wyre Forest Labour group to keep Ludlow Road open.

Mrs Danby told the meeting: “As parents of severely disabled children who attend Ludlow Road, we are desperate for the council to look at the budgets and find a way of keeping the funding going.

“We are not campaigners or used to coming into intimidating meetings, we are desperate parents trying to cling on to the glimmer of hope we have each week.

“Some of us are hanging by a thread and are at breaking point.

“Trust is the ultimate feeling we all need to let our children go and stay overnight – this takes many months to build.

“To think that if our funding is cut that our children could be sent somewhere else within a few weeks is ludicrous. The children and families have created a strong bond with staff and trust them completely with the knowledge they are safe and well looked after.

“This consultation has been very stressful to us all. We have to deal with all this and still care 24 hours a day for our children.”

Steven Brown, of Wyre Forest Labour, said: “Parent Amanda Danby passionately delivered a tearful appeal to save Ludlow Road.

“Her own words, her own emotions, explaining the stress the consultation and possible closure has caused her and her family.

“No one could fail to be moved by what Amanda said as she tried in vain to hold back her tears.

“Fellow parent Tracey Rochelle read another of the parent’s appeal not to close Ludlow Road. They both received prolonged applause from councillors when they’d finished, such was the impact.

“If Ludlow Road is closed after this, you can only conclude that the ruling Cabinet really don’t care.”

Councillor Andy Roberts, cabinet member with responsibility for children and families, said: “Families are being informed about the next stage of the consultation and I would like to thank all of those people who gave us their views.

"I met with the families who attended last week's meeting and I'm hoping to meet next month with any parent carers who wish to speak to me regarding the proposals. That meeting will take place before any recommendations are made."