MERSEYSIDE town halls will be forced to deny help to elderly people unable to wash, cook or shop because of the government’s “devastating” cuts, Andy Burnham warned yesterday.

The Liverpool-born Labour leadership contender said local councils would have no choice but to scale back assistance to only those with “substantial” needs.

He claimed that would leave pensioners with “moderate” needs unable to carry out everyday tasks such as getting up, bathing, making meals, housework and shopping because they would be left to fend for themselves.

Liverpool, Knowsley, St Helens, Halton and Warrington all offered help for “moderate” needs last year, according to the Care Quality Commission.

Sefton and Wirral authorities had already set the higher bar of “substantial” needs only – but have been criticised for doing so.

In an interview with the Daily Post, Mr Burnham urged Labour’s local government leaders to fight “as they did in the 1980s” to prevent such “vandalism”.

He said: “Care services will be hollowed out.

“The effect of that will be vulnerable people with needs will be left to fend for themselves or will have to pay charges.

“Councils have already been whittling away eligibility criteria for care.

“What you will see is a further retrenchment, so that only a fraction of needs will be met.”

But Mr Burnham – who has launched a ‘Save Our Services’ campaign – added: “I’m not accepting the cuts.

“I am not just going to sit here and wait to be knocked to the floor.

“We are going to campaign against them.

“We want Labour local government, as they did in the 1980s, to lead the attack against these vindictive cuts.”