FIVE children housed in a controversial care home have been relocated after a problem with the home's registration.

Lancashire Social Services removed the children who were being cared for at Homeside Care Limited's Moorland View premises in Dunnockshaw, Burnley, last week and put them in the care of a home run by another agency.

Managing director Daryl Chick today claimed he was sacked in August but service manager Diane Reti denied the claim and said the company was applying to re-register the home after Mr Chick resigned.

Burnley MP Peter Pike has stepped in to investigate the matter with Lancashire County Council after being contacted by residents.

The building is currently manned by a caretaker and the care manager Joe Rose while the application is made to Lancashire County Council. The service manager, who is in charge of both Homeside's homes in Burnley and Tottenham, said after Mr Chick left, the company had to move the children out while it registered the home in its own name.

"We are changing the management and until the new management is installed we can't have children in the home."

She said the senior residential social worker intended to return when the home re-opened and other staff were employed from an agency on a casual basis.

People living close to the home on Burnley Road set up a residents' association to fight the plan to register the former nursing home as a children's home, but in early August it was granted registration by Lancashire County

Residents held several meetings which were attended by Mr Chick.

Mr Chick said: "I have been working for the company since last December and I saw through the purchase and registration of Moorland View."

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