Old people in a home 400m from a superstore are being charged £7 to have their shopping done.

Frail pensioners, many of whom are in wheelchairs, have been told the levy is to encourage their independence.

The charges are being billed to those pensioners who need extra care in their sheltered accommodation at Marten House in Burgess Hill as part of a review of care packages in West Sussex.

They will only get help to take one bath a week instead of two and they are no longer being given free trips to the doctor.

Ironing is now being charged on top of a £7 laundry bill.

They could not manage any of these chores on their own.

The measures are being brought in as West Sussex County Council's social services tightens its purse strings.

Services such as shopping have been moved to outside agencies.

Residents who need extra care in the sheltered home are angry about the costs, especially because it would not cost that much for someone to travel to the shops for them by taxi.

Local firm A-2-B Taxis said it would cost less than £2 to get from Marten House on The Brow to Waitrose and other shops two streets away.

A £7.75 fee would cover a journey of more thanfive miles to Haywards Heath.

Cuts are hitting elderly residents in the sheltered housing who receive extra care from the council becausethey are too frail to do tasks such as shopping or take a bath themselves.

One man, who regularly visits an elderly friend at Marten House, said: "They're cutting back services in general. I think it's disgraceful.

"The residents used to be taken to the doctor, which is next door, or the optician, but have been told that will stop.

"I suppose the council no longer think these are vital services.

"Many of them are in wheelchairs and can't get out by themselves so how will they get prescriptions or see their doctor?

"So many of them don't seem to have relations or friends nearby. They are being let down.

"Some of the people are incontinent and one bath a week is a disgrace."

Elderly residents at Marten House said they were outraged by the charges.

One man said: "It's true. "I don't have extra care myself as I can still get around but it's not right for those who do."

Marten House has 40 units for sheltered accommodation and is run by New Downland Housing Association, although the council provides the extra care.

Town and Mid Sussex district councillor Anne Jones said: "It worries me because these are dependent and vulnerable people.

"By their very nature they need more help with things like shopping, not less.

"It makes me wonder if the people who are making these decisions understand the needs of vulnerable elderly people.

"The whole reason we developed the fine site of Marten House was so that, as residents get more frail, they can get more care but still stay at home. Services like shopping are an integral part of that."

A spokeswoman for West Sussex County Council confirmed the charges were being introduced but she said: "We regularly assess care packages to make sure we are making best use of our services and therefore some changes may have taken place recently.

"However, we have not reduced the number of staff.

"We do generally try to encourage people to live as independently as possible and so services like doing a resident's shopping are no longer provided by us.

"We do, however, fund other agencies who provide assistance such as a shopping service"