DOZENS of vulnerable pensioners will suffer if the council axes a daycare centre, it has been claimed.

The news of the proposal comes days after the Guardian revealed the authority is planning to close Walton House care home for the elderly in Chingford. Now it has emerged that the council is also considering closing Crownfield Day Centre, in Crownfield Road, Leytonstone, which can look after up to 40 people a day, some of whom suffer from dementia.

The proposals have worried service users and their families, who are concerned about the effect the closure might have on the health of vulnerable people.

Diabetic Ashok Shanji, 54, has been attending the centre for the past four years.

He has a metal plate in his neck and has difficulty moving his left leg.

Mr Shanji said: “I am really happy at Crownfield Day Centre. I have made plenty of friends and the staff help me move around.

“They also organise games like bingo and I have even been on trips to the seaside.

“I am concerned that if the centre closes I will become nervous and depressed. I suffered from depression before I moved into the centre and am worried that will happen again if it shuts.”

Crownfield Day Centre is one of two daycare centres run by the council in the borough.

The authority says it is considering closing Crownfield because it is only running at 50 per cent capacity.

It is proposing to increase funding to the Dementia Support Service and to the council's other daycare centre at Morley House.

The facility will move back to its original premises on Billet Road when decoration work is completed.

A council spokeswoman said: “All users will be reassessed to ensure that we can work with them and their carers to design a package of day activities and support which is tailored to meet their individual needs.”