ELDERLY residents of a private care home, some with severe mental problems, have been given two weeks to find new accommodation.

The shock announcement was made by Mr Barry Walker, owner of Stand Lodge Residential Home in Stand Lane, who told staff it was "economically impossible" to continue.

The news that the home, which currently has 13 residents and can cater for up to 15, will close next Wednesday (Oct 9) has left staff, residents and their relatives shell-shocked.

One member of staff said: "Some of the residents have been here for 12 years, so it is like their own home that they are being forced to leave. They are obviously very agitated about all this.

"There's one lady who is very old and it wouldn't surprise me if the upset doesn't kill her."

Another member of staff said: "There are a few residents with dementia and schizophrenia, and three who don't have any family. What are they expected to do?"

She added that for many of those living in Stand Lodge, the 15 full and part-time staff members have become surrogate families.

Mr Harry Greenhalgh's 93-year-old mother, Lily, has only been a resident at Stand Lodge for three months.

"Previously she was in sheltered accommodation, but she kept falling. Stand Lodge was perfect because it is very close to where I live so I could visit her often," said Mr Greenhalgh.

"Bolton Social Services paid for her to go there but when I phoned them about the closure they didn't even know. Fortunately I've managed to find my mum somewhere else in Bury, but there's a lot of residents who aren't going to be so lucky. The whole thing stinks and I'm bloody annoyed."

In a letter to residents' families, Mr Walker said: " It is with great sadness that things have come to this."

He added: "A low occupancy level over past years, government changes to regulations and the way older people are cared for (i.e. in their own homes), together with low fee levels dictated by social services make the future economically impossible."

Mr Walker was unavailable for comment.