Protestors against the closure of a disabled centre are staging a sit-in demonstration.

More than 60 users of the Queen Elizabeth Foundation Resource (QEF) Centre began the 48-hour protest yesterday in their latest attempt to halt the facility’s planned closure.

Angry demonstrators plan on spending two two nights at the centre, in Brent Way, Dartford.

Kent County Council has said it wants to modernise the service offered to users and is set to close the centre, which cares for people across north Kent, on October 17.

Drop-in centres in Gravesend, Swanscombe and Swanley have been proposed to replace it, but users say they are still unsure of their future.

Centre user Peter Wright, from Rochester, said: “We want to know what’s going to be arranged on a day-to-day basis."

June Wingrove, of Attlee Drive, Dartford, has been caring for her husband, Tom, for more than 25 years and joined the protesters.

She said: “This is a gem of a place. I cannot see why they are closing it."

A KCC spokesman said: “We understand the decision to close the centre has prompted an emotional response. KCC remains committed to providing day opportunities in a new way that encourages choice, independence and control – and which also takes the service out to reach more people in the community.”