WHITTAKER House old folks home has been saved, but it's the end for Warthfield as we know it.

The Bury home will be closed and the last four residents moved into the Radcliffe home while social services bosses look at developing a varied "campus of care" on the Warthfield site.

Campaigners are claiming a partial victory, saying that both homes would have shut last year if they had not fought the closures through the courts.

But they are unhappy that the overwhelming vote of residents and relatives, to keep both homes open, was ignored. Mrs Jean Ellis, chairwoman of campaign group CARE, said: "Being realistic, it's a victory, in that we've saved 18 residents from being evicted. Neither home would have been saved if we hadn't got involved.

"Personally, I'm devastated because my mother is in Warthfield. My main concern is that, in 12 months from now, will they do it all again and close Whittaker House? If they do anything like that, we will be back in court."

Mrs Ellis suspected that in six months the council will say there has been no interest from developers in the "village" concept and the Warthfield site would be sold.

The decision at Wednesday's (July 9) executive comes after months of wrangling since the council announced it wanted to close four of its homes and provide more community care instead.

Warthfield and Whittaker House won a High Court reprieve last year when a judge ruled that the consultation process was flawed. The other two homes, Beech Grove in Bury and Claremont in Prestwich, have already closed. The latter has recently been sold to a developer for £2.2 million.

Councillor Mike Connolly, executive member for social services, said the council would seek a partner to work on a "five-star campus of care" at Warthfield. This might encompass some residential care, day care and sheltered housing side by side.

Legal officers promised that Warthfield residents would not be moved if their doctor deemed there was an immediate risk to their health. They also said they would look at keeping the residents in situ while any development work went on, and offer them first option of going back if residential care was built at the Warthfield site.

Tory councillor Roy Walker tried to defer the decision while the village concept was properly investigated and costed, but this was not seconded.