Scotland's largest local authority could stop providing care homes for the elderly.

That was the stark warning today as strike action loomed by hundreds of residential home workers.

Glasgow City Council's service director of social work, David Crawford, has written to all 840 members of the Unison branch which has voted for the action in a dispute over pay.

He warned that the council's £75million plans to replace the existing 16 care homes with five new purpose-built facilities were in jeopardy.

He said the project depended on "more efficient working practices, including changes to staff rotas" and that Unison's demands for salary regrading would scupper this.

However, the move has been condemned by union leaders as an attempt to intimidate staff.

Doubts have also been raised over the ability of the private and voluntary care home sector in Greater Glasgow to find places for around 700 elderly people at short notice.

Mr Crawford's letter today warned: "If there is a strike, we will be forced to move residents to other care providers.

"Having moved residents out of the council's care, there can be no guarantee they will return."

A senior council source added: "There is a very real possibility this will see the council pull out of the care homes business altogether."

But Mike Kirby, Unison's Glasgow organiser, said the council was heightening tensions before a union meeting tomorrow.

He added: "It's disappointing the council is using threatening language when outside reports have questioned the standards of care from some private homes."