PENSIONERS in Bristol who live in council-run sheltered accom- modation are suffering because they no longer have resident wardens to look after them.

A survey by the Bristol Older People's Forum shows that more than two-thirds of the elderly say the quality of their lives is now worse than it was when there was a resident warden.

The survey reveals:

■ 83 per cent of pensioners in sheltered housing say the services provided by the council are now worse;

■ 68 per cent say their quality of life has suffered;

■ 76 per cent say they are "annoyed" or "angry" about the council's decision to remove their resident warden.

Judith Brown, for the forum, said: "This report shows just how shabbily older people living in sheltered housing have been treated by the Government and the council.

"Promises were given to the most vulnerable and the most needy that service standards would be maintained. Those promises have not been kept.

"But the most important thing about the report is what it tells us about the fresh promises being made now about the next and far bigger round of service cuts.

"It's not acceptable in a modern civilised society to make cash savings by picking on those who are the most frail, the most vulnerable and the least likely to complain.

"It is time the Government and the council looked at other options before hurting the people they should be protecting."

Dianne McCarthy, for Age Concern Bristol, said: "This is a really important report which reveals how vulnerable people can be severely affected by decisions to cut spending on public services – even though there are cast-iron assurances that they will not be worse off.

"When these decisions are made, the people making them are not always aware of the practical impact they will have on the lives of real people.

"We fear the impending round of spending cuts will have similar consequences for vulnerable older people – although those consequences are likely to be much worse than those described here."

The city council, along with other councils in the country, began removing resident wardens from sheltered housing schemes two years ago.

This followed a change in government funding arrangements which meant that they would no longer support the cost of wardens through the housing benefit system.

Most housing associations have also removed wardens from their premises.

The forum believes that thousands of people have been affected by the change.

It sent questionnaires to more than 500 residents in council-run sheltered housing schemes earlier this year. Their findings were based on replies received.

Lib Dem Cabinet Councillor Jon Rogers, who is in charge of the council's health and care department, said he realised the forum's report raised many issues regarding older people, including loneliness, feeling isolated, and problems with litter, cleanliness, feelings of insecurity and lack of organised activities.

He said: "I have asked the officers to review the issues in the report and consider how best to address them.

"I intend to write to all the residents who were contacted by the forum to let them know our responses on each of the issues."