A GREAT-grandmother who was one of 15 pensioners given just six hours to leave a care home before its sudden closure, has died.

The family of Alice Elsworth, 84, asked for further inquiries from the authorities to establish whether the stress of moving her from Astley House Care Home, Whitehall Road, Darwen, contributed to her death.

And Age Concern has called for an investigation into the closure and said if the move had not been so sudden Mrs Elsworth's "situation may have been different".

Coroner Michael Singleton said he had asked for a post mortem examination, which will take place today, on Mrs Elsworth ahead of a full inquest.

Care home owner, Prof Mohammed Iqbal Memon, declined to comment.

At 2pm last Tuesday the families of 15 women, many of whom were suffering from Alzhiemer's disease and dementia, were told that Astley House would close at 8pm.

Brightcrest Ltd, which ran the home, ceased trading due to financial difficulties and will be going into liquidation within a month.

Social Services found all the women temporary accommodation.

Mrs Elsworth was re-housed at Longshaw House, Crosby Road, Blackburn where she was found dead in her bed on Tuesday morning. The family have been told that she died peacefully in her sleep.

Mrs Elsworth moved to Astley House in March 2006 from her home in Hindle Court, Darwen, because of dementia.

Gaynor Elsworth, of Darwen, said her mum-in-law had been left "bewildered and in a bit of a daze" at being moved out.

She said: "She liked it at Astley House and the staff there were lovely. Social Services did their best to move people on that day. We have no complaints whatso-ever with Longshaw House.

"We don't know if it's because of the move. There is going to be a post mortem examination. She had only been there a week. We are all numb. It has been two shocks in a week."

Mrs Elsworth used to enjoy bingo and went to Highfield Congregational Church, Edmund Street, Darwen.

In the early 1990s she was widowed when her husband, Richard, died. They had two sons, Colin and Michael.

And she leaves six grand children and a number of great grandchildren.

When the Lancashire Telegraph called at Prof Memon's detached home in Darwen, there was a BMW and Ford Focus estate in the driveway. A woman who answered the door said Prof Memon did not want to talk.

When told Mrs Elsworth had died, she said: "That is sad, but at this given time he does not want to speak to you." Since the closure it has been revealed Prof Memon is vice-chairman of the Standards Committee for Preston City Council and a governor of the University of Bolton.

Pauline Walsh, chief officer at Blackburn with Darwen Age Concern, said: "We are very sorry to hear of the unfortunate death of this lady and our thoughts are with her family. Perhaps, if the move had not been so sudden, the situation may have been different.

"Age Concern would be keen to see a full investigation into how the home came to be closed at such short notice and would support Social Services in looking into the actions that can be taken."

Stephen Sloss, director of Social services, said: "We were sorry to learn of Mrs Elsworth's death following the recent events and wish to extend our sympathies to her family at this time."

Mrs Elsworth's funeral will be held at Highfield Congregational Church at 10.30am Friday, June 15, followed by committal at Pleasington Crematorium.