A CARE contract for a company whose problems in providing help for the elderly mirrored those experienced in the St Albans district has been terminated. Care UK, which provided home-care services in the east of Herts including Hertford, Ware and Bishop

A CARE contract for a company whose problems in providing help for the elderly mirrored those experienced in the St Albans district has been terminated.

Care UK, which provided home-care services in the east of Herts including Hertford, Ware and Bishop's Stortford, has lost its contract with Herts County Council only 10 months after it was signed

It follows numerous complaints from carers and users of the service about short visits or nobody turning up at all.

The problems first came to light last year, at the same time as Supporta Care took over the running of the home-care service in the St Albans district.

Supporta Care was also criticised for failing to provide sufficient care and many elderly people complained after they were left to fend for themselves at weekends.

But although the Supporta Care contract was suspended, it has now been restored.

The Lib-Dems, who have been raising concerns about care contracts throughout the county, have welcomed the decision to terminate the contract with Care UK

Cllr Nick Hollinghurst, their adult care services spokesman, said: "The county council now needs to ensure that all people requiring home care are properly covered under these new arrangements. The transfer of responsibility from Care UK to the new home care providers must be carried out smoothly - with no more calls cuts short and no more calls being missed.