AN investigation is under way into finances at a county council run old folks home, the Citizen can reveal.

A spokesman for the county council has confirmed that internal auditors have been inspecting the accounts at Beaumont View Residential Home on Stratford Close in Lancaster.

Morecambe man Tony Woodhouse, whose aunt, Mary Woodhouse, 92, is residing at the home, said he became aware of the investigation when he made inquires about his aunt's finances.

He said: "I was worried about something to do with my aunt's money situation and the manager said he would inform the auditors who were investigating something else already. I said I wanted my aunt's problem to be investigated as well. I think we should be told what's going on, after all it's tax payers money that's being spent on looking after our old folk."

A county council statement said: "The internal auditors are conducting an investigation into Beaumont View. The investigation will take some time and until it's completed we do not wish to comment further."

The county council's Fair Elms building in Lancaster - formerly a popular old people's home - was advertised for sale yesterday. A campaign to save the home earlier this year failed but a subsequent residents' campaign to prevent it being turned into a home for troubled youngsters was successful.

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