People with learning disabilities and their families are fighting the shock closure of a Workington respite centre. 

Cavendish House on Elizabeth Street has closed suddenly after an inspection highlighted concerns about its services. 

The move has left adults with learning disabilities without respite care or forced to travel to Carlisle or Kendal. 

Nicola Price, 32, of Coniston Crescent, Workington, whose brother Craig uses the centre, said it was a lifeline for families. She added: “They’re playing Russian roulette with vulnerable people’s lives. 

“If it wasn’t reopened or replaced quickly the families who use it would go into crisis.” 

Nicola Webb has seen her son’s planned respite cancelled because of the closure. She said: “People have been left in the lurch without any respite. 

“We’re not going to find out what’s going on until the report gets sent out. “I can’t go anywhere on my own because I haven’t got anyone to look after him when he’s not at school.” 

The Care Quality Commission raised concerns after inspecting the centre over Easter. 

Its full findings have not yet been published or presented to the council but it has ordered the centre to suspend admissions. 

Respite bookings have been cancelled and three people who were staying at the centre at the time of the inspection, understood to be long-term residents, have been affected. 

Two have since moved on and permanent accommodation is being lined up for the third. 

It is understood the issues - about the building and the application of policies and procedures - relate to regulatory changes. 

Cavendish House can support up to six people at a time and helps about 15 services users a year. 

The lengths of their stays vary depending on their needs. The breaks give families a rest from full-time care and service users a change of scenery and activities. 

The council held a meeting last week for service users and families, attended by about 30 people. 

It is also liaising directly with those that could not attend. 

A Facebook page launched to support Cavendish House - called Save adult learning disability respite care in Workington - has attracted more than 300 supporters. 

Campaigners are lobbying the council’s cabinet member responsible for adult social care, Beth Furneaux, and West Cumbrian MPs Sue Hayman and Jamie Reed for action.

Cavendish House was set to be replaced under plans to build extra care housing for elderly people at the town’s former fire station, which were revealed in 2014. 

No firm plans have yet been made public but a spokesman said the council expected to announce further details of a planned scheme in the summer.