SOCIAL services are to review bus changes after a mother claimed they meant her daughter lost up to an hour a day at a Darwen support centre.

Lisa Cavanagh, who has Down's Syndrome, was assessed by social services as needing full-time daily care from 9am until 3.30pm.

But the 27-year-old would have been picked up 50 minutes later in a morning as part of a new system to shorten journey times and streamline services.

Her mum, Kathleen, 61, said she suspected the re-shuffle was the result of a complaint made by her about the lack of air conditioning on the bus during the recent heatwave.

Under the previous system Lisa was usually on the bus for 10 minutes but sometimes up to an hour depending which route the bus took and how many people it picked up.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's proposed change is aimed at reducing all individual journey times by re-organising the order of pick ups and she would now be on the bus no longer than 10 minutes.

But Kathleen, who is also Lisa's carer, said this was not an appropriate alternative as it would mean she would be at home for longer.

Today Lancashire Down's Syndrome Support Group, which has 200 members, offered its support to the family.

Chairman Paul Tomlinson said: "The group is appalled that the council is streamlining and therefore putting financial matters ahead of the well being of vulnerable members of the community. We will be offering our support to the family and putting in the necessary help in getting this resolved."

Lisa has attended the council's Tower View Day Centre, off Pole Lane, for the last eight years.

Kathleen said she cannot afford to pay for home care for the extra time Lisa will be in the house after she goes to work at 8am until the bus arrives.

Kathleen, a social worker, of Lower Darwen said: "I found it outrageous that they did not think about the fact my daughter will lose more than four hours at the day centre each week. She needs this full-time care.

"The council are the ones who have assessed her and told us that and yet it is them who are talking about taking it away."

A council spokesman confirmed it was now reviewing the case.

Carole Shaw, assistant director in social services said: "As part of planned changes to improve transport services, we recently reviewed a number of routes.

"Our plan is to increase the flexibility of transport services so that people get a better and more personalised service.

"Our aim throughout is to enable more people to remain active in their communities.

"We are also investigating changes in the types of vehicles we use.

"Transport should not affect people's time spent at day centres."