A COUNCIL-run care home that was closed amid a storm of protest earlier this year looks set to be sold -- for more than a quarter of a million pounds -- to buyers who are believed to be re-opening it as another old folks' home.

The £255,000 bid for Warren Manor on Warren Drive, Anchorsholme, was understood to have been from someone in the care industry who was planning to develop the site as a care home for the elderly.

Parkgate Community Care, based at Bispham Village Chambers, was linked with the offer but Parkgate staff refused to either confirm or deny their involvement in the bid, which was accepted by the council executive committee yesterday morning (Wednedsay).

The bid was the highest of three for the former home for the elderly. It was based on refurbishing and extending the existing accomodation, which had been boarded up following its closure, and replacing the flat roof with a pitched roof.

The two other bids were for £230,000, based on the demolition of the home and the building of 21 modern terraced homes within a mews court, and for £80,000, based on refurbishing the existing building and replacing the flat roof with a pitched roof.

Capital receipts from the sale of the home were to be earmarked for investment in the new special centres at Hoyle House and Stratford House and for other Social Services buildings.

But Blackpool Liberal Democrat chairman Steven Bate was outraged that the former council-run home looked set to be sold off to re-emerge as a private old folks' home.

"This proves we were right to say there was a need for care homes in the area. The council was wrong to say that there was no demand and that people were better staying at home with home help visits.

"I hope the new Warren Manor will be able to recruit some of the dedicated staff that were chucked out by the council," he said.