SUPPORT is coming in on a national scale for the elderly residents beginning the fight to keep their sheltered housing wardens, according to campaign organisers.

Pensioners living in warden supported sheltered housing have again started the fight to save the service after Tory cabinet members last week publicly showed their determination to push ahead with the cuts.

Councillors agreed on Wednesday to begin a consultation on pulling the wardens in favour of what they believe are more even services supporting more residents in the borough.

People will be able to have their say on two options being put forward, which include a floating service and a pay-as-you-go system.

But campaigners have already vowed to maintain the pressure on councillors and fight any plans they feel would leave them vulnerable in their homes.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside Hendon Town Hall, in The Burroughs, ahead of the cabinet meeting chanting “cut allowances, not wardens” and brandishing placards reading “Barnet has let us down”.

David Young, chairman of the UK Pensioners Strategy Committee and sheltered housing tenant in Edgware, said the support on the night was fantastic, and claimed groups nationally are contacting him about organising protests against similar plans by their councils.

He said: “We are still fighting and we won't back down.

“We have got a lot of support from people in the borough and further out across the country.

“Other councils see Barnet as leading the way and if they see them getting away with it, they will try it. That is why we are getting a lot of calls from all over the UK, because people are scared.”

John Burgess, branch secretary of Barnet Unison, said it was important the collective power of the trade unions gets behind the pensioners to help them in the fight.

He said: “As trade unions we should be working to help organise campaigns.

“We are going to continue our fight and those who have warden services are not going to give in to this council.

“We can't see what the saving is going to be. The councillors are risking bringing their names in to disrepute in a battle that could bring the whole council into disrepute.”