OLD people at five council-run homes will have to move out in a care shake-up in Kirklees.

Eighty-five residents will be found other places as major changes get under way.

Social services chiefs pledged today they would consider the needs of the elderly people "sensitively".

They will be moved out as homes get new roles in a £4.1m plan involving services for the old.

A new home in the Huddersfield area for old people with mental health care needs is among the changes.

A site for the new building has yet to be identified.

Clr Sylvia Smithson, council Cabinet member responsible for social services, said: "These are major works to improve services for our older people.

"What we are determined to do is keep disruption to a minimum, and where possible to relocate residents in `family' groups, cared for by staff with whom they are familiar."

Changes due to be approved by the council's Cabinet next week include:

* Converting Oakes Villa at Lindley and Knowl Park House at Mirfield into day care centres.

* Moorlands Grange at Netherton to be a residential care home for people recovering from hospital stays, as well as retaining beds for long-stay residents.

* Using Ings Grove House at Mirfield to provide 38 places for short-term residential care.

* Claremont House at Heckmondwike to specialise in residential care for people with mental health problems - with an extra 13 beds.

Improvements will see en-suite bedrooms for the first time in council-run homes in Kirklees.

A total of 114 rooms will get the new look - a quarter of all the rooms in homes.

Clr Smithson said the changes were part of a drive to help people live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

She said: "That is what they say they want and that is what our policies and services are geared to providing."

A Mirfield councillor today condemned the proposals to turn Ings Grove House in the town into a centre for short-term care.

Clr Martyn Bolt described the move as "folly".