AN on-line petition has been launched in a bid to save Trafford's social services 'Rapid Response' team - and hundreds of people have backed it.

The Sale-based team provides short term care to people coping with emergencies - with the aim of preventing unnecessary admissions to hospital and also providing palliative care.

But town hall chiefs are proposing to disband the unit with the loss of 22 jobs, as part of the cash-strapped council's 'Reshaping Trafford' plans to cut costs.

An internal council document about the plans says that "many of these emergencies could be dealt with in other ways at less of a cost or avoided completely."

The Rapid Response team members have started a petition for the service to be retained. They claim that if the rapid response team is axed that " vulnerable people needing care will suffer, all due to cost cutting."

So far, 323 people have signed it.

A council spokesperson said that as part of its transformation of community health and social care services, the council is consulting with affected staff about the future of its Rapid Response service.

"This follows a public consultation which took place in December 2015. All comments and views expressed at that time were taken into account ahead of a report being put before the council executive.

"The council also reinforced its commitment to involve staff, elected members and the recognised trade unions when service changes are being considered and confirmed that comments and views received during the staff consultation will be carefully considered before any final decisions are taken."

The petition is at www.change.org/p/graham-brady-save-the-service