"Conservatives at County Hall are neglecting the most vulnerable members of our society in a desperate bid to balance their books - but we have shown it would be possible to prevent an unacceptable massive rise in the price of meals on wheels,"

said Essex County Council Liberal Democrats leader Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, in response to Tory-controlled Essex County Council's Conservative budget.

"There is increasing pressure on the social services budget due to longer life expectancy and our ability to provide more sophisticated services, which the Conservatives have repeatedly flagged up over the past few months. Astonishingly, they have decided to ignore their own warnings and not put in anywhere near enough money to cover vulnerable residents' needs.

There is the money available as the Liberal Democrats alternative budget shows only too clearly. We would allocate an extra £5.5m for the social services budget which will, amongst other things, allow us to continue to heavily subsidise meals on wheels, cutting the proposed increase of either £1.20 or £1.70 per head to 10p, and allowing people to continue using the service and remain in their own homes."

The elderly and disabled in Essex have been the hardest hit in the budget agreed for the next financial year. The social services department looks like overspending by a massive £20m in the current financial year. However, the ruling Conservatives' budget for next year, once the overspend and inflation is allowed for, provides no extra money overall.

The Liberal Democrats' proposal was to increase meals on wheels by 10p, with meals costing £2.40 each. The Conservatives' proposal is to increase the charge from £2.30 to either £3.50 or £4.00 per meal.

Research undertaken by Essex County Council in 2005, showed that nearly 60% of current users would only be prepared to pay a maximum of £3 per meal. Over half of current users of meals on wheels are over 75 years of age. Meals on wheels allows the elderly and disabled to remain in their own homes, which is one of the objectives of the County Council.