THE remaining residents of a private care home in Radcliffe left on Monday (Oct 7) after being given only two weeks to find alternative accommodation.

Stand Lodge Residential Home in Stand Lane had cared for 13 people until they were suddenly told it was to close.

One staff member said: "Fortunately new homes have been found for all 13 but it was left to the staff to move them out and drive them to their new accommodation.

"Some of them were very upset to be leaving, one man even lay on his bed and said he wished he could die."

The owner of the home, Mr Barry Walker, announced last month that it was "economically impossible" to continue.

The news came as a shock to the residents, their relatives and the 15-strong staff, who had become surrogate families for the elderly residents, some of whom had severe mental problems.

Mr Walker attributed the closure to a low occupancy level over past years, government changes to regulations and the way older people are cared for, and low fee levels dictated by social services.