THE director general of a pensioners' charity has called for a change in the law to stop care homes closing at short notice.

It comes after Astley House Care Home, Whitehall Road, Darwen, was closed at six hours' notice, leaving families and social services to find new homes for 15 women with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

One of the residents, 84-year-old Alice Elsworth, has since died. A post mortem examination found that she died of natural causes and there will be no inquest.

Owner of the home Professor Mohammed Iqbal Memon blamed the closure on the financial difficulties faced by Brightcrest Ltd, which provided care at the home.

The snap closure has prompted Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, to call for a change in the law to require homes to insure against insolvency.

Mr Lishman said: "It is disgraceful that older people in a care home can be evicted with a few hours' notice.

"We want regulations to be changed so that all care homes are legally bound to take out insurance so that if they do go into liquidation, they are in a position to continue operating for at least three months.

"That would give social services enough time to find new care homes for residents.

"Alternatively, the care home industry could put its own house in order by introducing a scheme that covers people if a care home goes out of business.

"We would urge the Government to act on the issues that have been raised here when it carries out its consultation on care home regulations this summer."

John Schofield, the coroner's officer, said the post mortem examination had revealed that Mrs Elsworth's death was from natural causes.

He added: "There will not be an inquest."