Carers of people with learning disabilities have described respite care units as their lifeline, after a health chief admitted their closure was considered.

Con Egan, chief executive of Bradford District Care Trust, said admitted the closure of two respite care units was discussed.

At a meeting of the trust's patient and public involvement forum, parents, carers and patients heard closing Copwood and Old Park Road respite care units was discussed as one of the ways of cutting a £1 million overspend.

Chief executive Con Egan said: "I'm not denying there was a discussion.

"The financial situation is dire. It's a difficult circumstance that we are in at the moment. Let's be very clear about this, this city has got a situation where every year more and more complex cases are coming into our service.

"The reality is no more money has been put in the pot."

Janet Allison, of The Stray, Idle, told the Telegraph & Argus that when her son Mark, 31, stays at the Old Park Road unit it gives her time to herself.

"It is my lifeline. When Mark goes there at a weekend it is a chance for me to recharge my batteries."

Mrs Allison first heard about proposals to close the two units in December.

At the meeting Gerry Barker, the Deputy Director for Learning Disabilities, maintained no such decision that been made.

"There was never a decision made to close these units," he said.

Carer Rita King said she was happy with the level of respite care she was receiving. At the moment her 30-year-old son Martin attends the Old Park Road unit on alternate weekends.

"I am not prepared to have a reduction in service. And it's not just me, there are a lot of people in the same situation," she said.

Under section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 all NHS trusts have a duty to involve and consult patients and the public if any changes to services are planned.