STOP campaigning and embrace change.

That is the message of a York father, whose severely disabled son has been attending Yearsley Bridge Day Centre for 15 years.

The Huntington Road centre is due to close in May as part of City of York Council's plans to modernise its services for people with learning disabilities.

More than 6,000 people have now signed a petition against the centre's closure.

But Barrie Stephenson, 58, of Heworth, in York, said he thought the fight to keep the centre open was very "short-sighted".

Mr Stephenson, whose 34-year-old son Warwick has cerebral palsy, said: "Yearsley Bridge has served people with learning disabilities in York excellently for many years but it is at the end of its life.

"The flexible approach to provision that the council is introducing will be a better way to meet the diverse needs of the users.

"I anticipate some pain in the transition from what they have now to the new provision, but it's inevitable.

* For more details see The Press today.