FIGURES showing the number of people waiting for social services in Oxfordshire have fuelled concerns about the ability of the department to cope in the New Year.

There are now 67 people waiting in hospital for county council services and another 145 at home.

The figures, due to be tabled before the authority's social services watchdog committee, have added to fears that the Conservative-controlled County Hall will struggle to meet projected demands for residential and nursing care.

Even leader Keith Mitchell said demand was outweighing supply.

He said the ageing population meant the council faced "huge difficulties".

"We are facing more pressure from this area than we have funding to meet it," he added.

Just a fortnight ago County Hall ploughed an extra £1m into its older people's services, a fund paying for residential and nursing care, home support and day centres.

Barbara Gatehouse, Labour's spokesman on social and community services, said the figures were a "disgrace."

She added: "They were warned about the inadequacies of their original 2006/07 budget for older people. But they carried on regardless and have now been forced to put in an extra £1m. Let's hope they do better next year."