WIRRAL care home owners have claimed the system is in crisis and fear they may be forced out of business.

Almost 300 beds were lost in the borough last year after homes closed.

And an independent report commissioned by the council revealed homes should be paid an extra £100 per person a week for care.

Yesterday a delegation of owners met the council to thrash out the problem.

Albert Mitchell, one of the representatives, said: "There is a huge problem with funding in Wirral.

"We have lost 293 beds in Wirral and we expect more losses in the future.

"The situation doesn't look good at all. It appears that the council doesn't have any money to play around with.

"We met with them to discuss the way forward for increasing levels of payment for care."

In January last year two Wirral nursing homes closed, leaving 22 elderly people with days to find somewhere to live.

It is feared there will be many more over the next 12 months if extra cash is not found.

The council currently pays between £248 to £370 for a week's care but home owners say they need £495 to pay for the high levels of care they give elderly residents.

Some ask families to pay a top-up contribution to help bridge the gap.

But council leader Labour's Steve Foulkes says they have put more money in the budget.

He said: "We have got a good working relationship with private care providers. I think they understand our finance situation.

"We have put an extra £750,000 into the budget for care homes and that is something I'm very proud of. The Conservatives proposed cutting the budget by £500,000. It is regrettable when care homes close and we are trying to stop that happening.

"We are working with the care home owners to find a solution."

Cllr Pat Williams, Liberal Democrat spokeswoman for social services, said: "Social services is trying to understand the needs of the homes and also, we hope the homes can understand the pressures of the council's budget.

"This is something that really needs to be addressed by the Government.

"We need more money from central government, that's the only way forward.

"Homes have closed down and more are expected to, which is a terrible shame. It is vital that people have a choice of homes.

"But we do really value the work of the care homes and we want to sort this out."

Conservative spokeswoman Cllr Jackie Hall said: "We all understand the problems but we can't give what we don't have.

"Social services has worked hard to try to resolve this.

"If we had the money we would give it to them, but we don't. It's as simple as that."