A director of a Trow-bridge care company which helps elderly people continue living in their own homes has warned the Government that the care industry is “at breaking point”.

Liz Kirkham, the managing director of Candlelight Homecare Services, fears that low pay and rising fuel costs are affecting the quality of service being offered to vulnerable people.

Mrs Kirkham’s company is based in Castle Street and has clients across Wiltshire, Dorset, Bath and north-east Somerset.

She said: “Paying care workers sensible wages for their often difficult jobs would enable companies to provide a quality service to elderly people who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in their retirement.

“I was dismayed to read that, not only will the price of fuel increase by 3.02p in August, but the National Minimum Wage will only rise to £6.19 from October.

“The care industry has taken a battering and recruitment is becoming increasingly difficult as a result.

“Who would want to join an industry that is now seen as delivering such a poor service?

“Public spending cuts have meant that, in the main, home care companies have not had an increase in their rates from some of their local authorities for three years running.

“As a provider of home care in rural areas, the cost of fuel is particularly close to our hearts and, with no inflationary uplift, this is causing a strain on the system.

“People on fixed incomes have seen their investments become worth less and are putting off purchasing care, often putting themselves at risk as a result.

“Our care staff need to be supported in the community through training and management which is a necessary overhead.

“We have to comply with Care Quality Commission regulations and all these are cost pressures that all home care companies are having to deal with.

“It is little wonder that, in some parts of the country, the care industry is at breaking point in places. People are being encouraged to remain in their own homes, but there is no investment to enable this. I am concerned that this situation cannot be allowed to continue.”

Mrs Kirkham has written to MP Steve Webb, who represents the Thornbury and Yate constituency, one of the areas that the business covers. He has promised to raise her concerns with Health Minister Andrew Lansley and the Chancellor, George Osborne.

Her views come ahead of the Government’s response to the Dilnot report, a review of the funding system for care and support throughout England.