PENSIONERS living in a sheltered housing complex say they are having sleepless nights because of plans to get rid of their 24-hour warden system.

From next April, elderly residents living in Afflets Court, Moat Field, Basildon, will have to fend for themselves during the night and at weekends, because of council cuts.

Currently, a warden is on site 24 hours a day throughout the week, to answer their emergency calls and make checks on vulnerable residents living in the complex’s 60 flats.

However, the changes proposed mean wardens will only be on site from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Instead they will be able to call for help using a care line service, which will alert the emergency service.

Audrey Michaelson, 59, whose dad Brian Collins, 86, has lived in the complex for two years, said: “I’m fuming. My dad is very ill and has had a number of heart attacks.

“At least three times since he’s been there he’s had to pull his emergency cord and somebody from downstairs has rushed up to help him.

“We are all terrified he could get ill in the night and there will be nobody there to help him.

“We live just down the road and can be there very quickly, but having someone on site the residents know and trust is essential, especially for people who don’t have family.”

Mrs Michaelson, of Lander-mere, Basildon, is starting a petition to get the council to re-think the changes.

The cuts are being made because of a 44 per cent reduction in the council’s Supporting People Grant. It means a shake-up of the way its 47 sheltered housing complexes are run must take place.

A meeting held at Afflets Court by the council to explain the changes was attended by more than 200 people concerned about the changes.

Mrs Michaelson added: “It got heated at times.

“Relatives are rightfully very worried about the welfare of the residents.

“Some of the elderly people were crying and saying they can’t sleep because they are so worried. The worst case scenario is you could have elderly people lying alone and helpless in their flats. Nobody is happy about any of this.”

Mrs Michaelson’s petition will be put in Afflets Court for people to sign.