Vulnerable adults are desperately fighting plans to privatise a vital day centre by selling home-made cakes and gifts.

Gaynesford Lodge will be privatised and Belsize Court closed under Sutton Council’s plans to save £231,000 from the day services £1.1m budget.

Elderly people attending Gaynesford fear privatisation will lead to a deterioration in services and profits taking priority over standards and care.

In a bid to do all they can to stop the move, they are baking cakes and selling lavender bags to help raise what they can for the centre, which ran at a 38 per cent vacancy rate last year.

Alfred Webb, 83, from Carshalton, who has attended Gaynesford for the last three years, said: “If they privatise it, it can’t be for the better. There is never an improvement when these things are privatised.

“I hope they don’t change it. We’re trying to raise money here to help ourselves and the council.”

Ivy Leigh, 82, from Carshalton, is selling lavender bags to visitors and George Walden, 83, spokesman for the day centre users, is selling his home- made rock cakes.

He said: “We hope to save the centre, because we’re worried about privatisation.

“This centre means friendship, it means socialising. If they change it, it might cost more money. People here don’t have a lot of money.”

Under the proposals, which will go to the executive in October, the council will develop three other resource centres – Cheam Priory day care centre, Cloverdale Court day club and Gaynesford Lodge.

The move comes after a report showed 18 per cent of places were vacant, because people felt the form of support did not appeal to them or the charges were too high.

The other day care centres are run by registered charities.

Councillor Colin Stears, executive member for adult social services and health, said the fundraising efforts were appreciated but were “unlikely to help to resolve the need for ongoing savings”.

He said: “No decision has yet been taken but the views of the people who use our day centres will certainly be listened to.

“We believe the proposal would not adversely impact the quality of service provided – the same staff would remain, the same standards would be adhered to and we would ensure that its operation remains fully accountable, just as we do with our other day centres which are all run by the voluntary sector.

“We believe there are savings to be made from working with an independent organisation.”