There will be more winners than losers in proposed changes to Poole social care charges - but those who pay more will be severely hit, it is claimed.

Charges for transport and day centres will double - from £3 to £6 - and home care charges will rise from £15.24 to £18.54 an hour.

Seventy of the most vulnerable residents needing help in their homes, judged able to pay, could pay an average of an extra £2,420 a year under changes to the Fairer Charging Policy, said Cllr Mike Brooke, Liberal Democrat group leader.

"While a lot of people are benefiting from the changes, which is a good thing, we have this group of people who are going to be very, very severely hit," he said.

He added: "The rises are all significantly over the rate of inflation and significantly higher than people's ordinary pension."

The Borough of Poole's community support overview group is recommending the changes, which will raise £169,560 from 70 of the 800 residents receiving home care.

John Dermody, head of adult social services commissioning, said 50 per cent would receive free services, 40 per cent a fixed rate of £15 a week and 10 per cent the full charge.

"We are saying some people are paying too much at the moment and some people are not paying enough," he said. "That's why we want to extend it."

He said by extending the scheme the council was able to continue helping people with moderate needs, which most local authorities had stopped doing.

"There will be a substantial number of people at day centres that will not pay transport charges," he said. He estimated that of 600 people attending day centres, 300 would get free transport.

"For those people who can afford to pay, there will be an increase in charge," he said. "However, even those people receiving home care with more than £21,500 in cash savings will pay no more than 85 per cent of the cost of living in residential care."

Cllr Elaine Atkinson, portfolio holder for well-being, said: "Income from charges plays a significant part in maintaining both the high levels of service and our current eligibility criteria, meaning that the number of people in Poole who remain able to lead independent lives in their own homes is among the highest in the country."