Pensioners have been barred from a day centre -because staff were spending too much time making them tea.

Dozens of elderly people who have visited Abingdon Day Centre in Broad Street for more than 20 years have been told they are no longer welcome.

Pensioners, who were not centre clients, dropped in for a cup of tea and a chat, while waiting for transport home.

But now they have been told to stay away because of "pressure on staff and lack of space".

Oxfordshire Social Services staff have issued them with a list of commercial cafes as alter- natives. Sue Crane, the centre's own support committee chairman, is outraged. The former Abingdon mayor said: "Centre managers say it is too much work for them to make cups of tea. Many elderly visitors told me they would have made it themselves if someone had asked.

"I don't think Social Services realise how valuable the facility was. It was a crucial meeting place for many lonely people who live alone. It was a chance for them to meet friends.

"But it was more than that - while waiting in a warm safe place for lifts home, visitors could receive precious help and advice from Age Concern. Many need help filling in forms, writing letters and understanding benefit rights. But now they are being deprived." Jean Hager, of Age Concern, said the facility was invaluable for her to establish links with otherwise 'unreachable' elderly people.

She said: "By chatting over a cup of tea, I established friendships with visitors and they would open up for help. I am worried I will lose this contact now. Without this facility many elderly people never find out about the help available."

Many pensioners are now going to the Salvation Army in West St Helen Street.

Capt Jean Edmunds, of the Salvation Army, said: "We have been inundated. I was shocked when a lady said they have nowhere else to go."

Peter Perman-Howe, the council's service manager, apologised but said there would be no change of policy.

He said: "Making tea was taking up quite a lot of staff time. It was obviously a difficult decision and not one we made rashly."

Story date: Wednesday 24 November

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.