Alison Bartlett reports on fears that cuts to the social services budget will hit home care

Linda Ayres's life changed forever after she received serious spinal injuries in a shooting accident while living in South Africa.

Mrs Ayres, 56, of Wootton, near Abingdon, had to relearn everyday skills when she lost the use of her legs.

Mrs Ayres says she depends on social services' carers just to get out of bed in the morning, although she is able to do a lot for herself.

She said: "I would be devastated if my independence was taken away from me."

Some of the people social services enable to live at home require round-the-clock care.

Without such support, their only option would be to move into residential homes.

Since the Community Care Act came into force in 1994, local authorities have been encouraged to help disabled people enjoy the quality of life able-bodied people accept as the norm.

Mr Sinclair said: "Many disabled people want to use ordinary facilities, like their local library, sports centres, pubs and clubs, so we try to help them access those facilities."

Helping people with disabilities to take control of their own lives has been given a huge boost thanks to a direct payments scheme which allows people to buy their own care.

Under the Community Care and Direct Payments Act, introduced in 1996, local authorities can assess people's needs and provide them with the funding they need to purchase care for themselves.

The money is paid by social services into a special bank account and is carefully monitored to ensure people get enough funding.

A 40-year-old disabled woman, living in the Oxford area, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I can now interview, hire and recruit my own carers and limit them to two or three people.

"Before I received direct payments, I had agency carers and people were coming to my house who I did not know, so there was no continuity.

"Now I am purchasing my own care, I can specify when I want to get up and go to bed or do my shopping - basic things that other people take for granted. It has given me control over my own life and I feel much more independent."

The direct payments scheme has been praised by the Oxfordshire Council of Disabled People for allowing people to decide who comes into their home to provide care, and when.

Janet Mace, co-ordinator of OCDP, said Oxfordshire was at the forefront of the initiative, which had already saved the county money.

Ms Mace said: "By enabling service users to employ people directly, the county council is cutting out middle men. People receiving direct payments have saved social services money over the past two years because any savings come back to them.

"People with degenerative illnesses have been able to die in their own homes, surrounded by the people they chose to look after them, thanks to the scheme."