Around 70 people attended a public meeting organised by Barnet Unison to discuss the implications of a decision to cut the wages of care home staff in the borough by as much as 30 per cent.

In August, not-for-profit trust Fremantle announced plans to sack care workers and re-employ them on reduced salaries. Carers and family members of people living at the borough's care homes discussed the potential fall-out from the scheme on Thursday at Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs.

John Burgess, Barnet Unison branch secretary, said: "People are very angry, upset and concerned. Relatives fear that the carers won't return to work on the new salaries, and that loved ones will be left with agency staff."

Mr Burgess said the trade union would be compiling a petition to send to Hendon MP Andrew Dismore, and were organising another meeting to be held at the start of 2007.