PENSIONERS using council daycare centres face a hike of nearly 700 per cent this autumn.

Cash-strapped Swindon Council voted to push ahead with plans to increase the current charge of 65p to £5 in October.

Officers say the increase will generate an extra £59,000 a year and help to make up a £100,000 shortfall in the Social Services care budget.

A survey in March showed 507 people attend the town's six centres.

Coun Ian Dobie, lead member for Social Services (Con, Haydon Wick), said it costs more than 65p to collect the fee.

"This increase will bring us much more in line with neighbouring authorities," he said.

Coun Dobie stressed that the increase would be means-tested.

Currently, elderly users of the council's specialist centres are charged based on an assessment of 80 per cent of their disposable income. Now this will rise to 90 per cent.

He added: "Nobody who cannot afford to pay will have to. This is about improving services for the people who need it."

The new rate still compares favourably to some other authorities. South Gloucestershire charges its users £10 a day, while Bournemouth charges £7.50 a day.