The fact that two such important charities as Age Concern and Mind back Harold Trace's approach to the Ombudsman to stop the closure of the Benwell and Stanwell day centres (Staines Guardian, October 5) is very encouraging.

These two specialist public health watchdogs have produced a wealth of evidence showing the sad consequences of social isolation in terms of mental and physical deterioration to elderly people, which such closures can only exacerbate.

Their research also shows that the consequence of this rapid deterioration in health is dependent on secondary care which is enormously expensive.

There are no financial savings in fact the contrary.

I urge the Conservative councillors to study the research and conclude that it is folly to worsen by closure the well being of a whole generation of elderly people and thereby increase taxation to meet clinical needs.

MAJORIE MARTIN Ashford