ELDERLY residents were given just weeks to find alternative accommodation following the shock announcement to shut a nursing a residential home.

Cliffe Nursing and Residential Home in Stubbins, Ramsbottom, closed its doors after 20 years this week after moving out the last remaining residents in what staff described as tearful scenes.

And angry staff who claim they had to carry out an "emergency" transfer of residents say they are still waiting to be paid.

Nurse carer Helen Ledger said: "It was very upsetting for residents. Some are in their 90s with some having been there for a long time. It was awful for them."

Nurse manager Mike Sarren told the Bury Times: "Everything happened so quickly and suddenly. We were told at a meeting two weeks ago that we were going to be made redundant.

"This Monday we were told the home was going into liquidation. Some of the staff have been paid something, some have received nothing. We were just told to fill out forms."

Residents and their relatives were told in mid-February that the home would close in March and to find alternative accommodation.

Rumours that the home was closed so it could be turned into a Islamic College have been dismissed by the proprietor Mr Asif Zaman. And Rossendale Council confirmed that it had not received a planning application for a college on the site.

The closure has forced 19 residents out of the home and left 25 members of staff out of work.

Mr Zaman said he had "no choice" but to shut the home because it could not meet required standards and regulations.

"The proper procedures were followed in closing the home and declaring insolvency. The home could not meet the new necessary regulations," he said.

Mr Zaman, who has been the proprietor for the past seven years, assured staff that they would get the money due to them.

"They will be the first to get their money through the proper channels," he said.

Although he said that there were no plans to turn the building into a college, Mr Zaman did admit that "alternative uses" were being discussed for the building, but refused to reveal what they were.

"It was a very difficult and sad decision to close the home. When I came here seven years ago, I did not think this would happen. But there was no alternative," said Mr Zaman.

A spokesman for Bury Council said that the social services department was aware that the home was to close before Christmas, but added: "We were told the home would shut on March 18 but on Monday we received a phone call that it would close that day, two weeks earlier than the expected closure.

"We had to make emergency provision for one resident who was being funded by the authority. We had already made provision for the other residents in our care to be transferred to a home in Rawtenstall."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council social services said: "Following the immediate notification that the private Cliffe Nursing and Care Home in Stubbins was to close we assisted in helping residents move to alternative homes as a matter of priority.

"Fortunately social workers had already began making all necessary assessments of residents and discussions with relatives as to suitable alternative placements prior to official closure. This meant that many residents had moved to other homes last week.

"And despite the short notice the four remaining residents had already identified where they wished to go and were transferred to the homes of their choice preventing any distress. All residents have now been accommodated."