AS council chiefs sought to justify the removal of wardens from old people's sheltered housing this week, the Journal heard of growing fears among vulnerable old-age pensioners.

Andrew Reynolds, head of strategic housing at Salisbury district council, said the cabinet had decided as a cost-cutting measure to pull wardens off 22 sites across the district.

This followed news of a reduction in the annual grant the council receives from Supporting People Wiltshire - providers of housing-related support for vulnerable people - by an expected five per cent.

Local authorities have subsequently remodelled services and Salisbury district council decided to cut costs this year by removing wardens.

In place of the wardens, a team of community scheme managers is visiting residents.

The move has been condemned by pensioners, councillors and tenants' panel members. On Tuesday, the Journal visited Addison Square in Durrington, after being contacted by residents angry at the loss of their warden.

They said they felt vulnerable, communal areas were no longer cleaned or maintained and social activities had ceased.

Joy Eckford, who has lived at the complex for 13 years, said: "We pay for a service and no one has ever asked for our opinions. We are just an embarrassment to the council.

"Nobody here is happy that the warden has gone. I cannot see how it is cost-effective and now there is nothing like personal contact - no one person who gets to know you and actually cares."

Addison Square resident and council tenants' panel member John Dear said: "The average age of a person here is 83.

"Can you imagine anyone of 83 getting on a telephone, let alone complaining?"

The Journal has also received a lengthy document outlining the concerns of residents living at Suffolk and Norfolk Road sheltered housing, in Harnham.

The pensioners listed a multitude of damning complaints including:

Vulnerable residents are left without appropriate cover.

Community scheme managers are constantly travelling between different complexes, so cannot be contacted.

Visits are made by different people at no set times, and they are unaware of residents' individual needs.

The CareConnect service is not working adequately, with some residents waiting up to 20 minutes for answers to their calls.

Norfolk and Suffolk Road residents have signed a petition opposing their warden's removal and, with the backing of their district councillor, Murial Tomlinson, have helped instigate a Supporting People scrutiny group.

Miss Tomlinson said: "I was contacted by residents and feelings are running very high.

"Talks given to residents by Supporting People didn't convince them and only made people more uneasy about losing their warden.

"Residents now receive visits from people they don't know - and it is such a trauma, particularly for those who are housebound."

The Journal has also learned residents are now paying a higher Supporting People fee, despite the removal of their wardens.

Age Concern Salisbury district chief officer Phyllis Dayes said the organisation was very worried.

She said: "We have had quite a number of complaints. I believe it is all about saving money and putting money before people.

"It is really worrying and a backward step - but people need to start complaining to the council."

Mr Reynolds said the council had received no formal complaint about the decision to remove wardens.

He said: "Wiltshire is looking at priority services and all costs, and on-site scheme managers are not the most cost-effective way of delivering services to older people.

"The council approved in July last year the policy to move wardens off-site and develop their role, and support the independence of people in the community."