RESIDENTS have lost a battle to prevent an historic hotel in Nelson being bulldozed to make way for a care home.

The hotel, which dates from 1870, faces demolition under proposals by Great Marsden Residential Ltd and City View Estates.

Blueprints for a 70-bed care home were approved by Pendle councillors despite protests from heritage campaigners.

The Barkerhouse Road hotel, which has been empty for a number of years after being used latterly as a pub, was once the home of industrialist Sir Amos Nelson and is regarded as one of the town's oldest structures.

Concerns had been put forward about the levels of parking for the care home.

But councillors were advised that the blueprints met Lancashire County Council standards and any refusal of the scheme could not be defended.