FIFTEEN elderly people have been re-homed after a Blackburn care home closed down.

Heslam House, in St Francis Road, Feniscliffe, which has cared for some of the area's most vulnerable people for more than three decades, has been earmarked for closure at the end of the month.

Bosses said 15 residents were relocated, including one who had been at the home for almost 10 years and four others who asked to be moved together so that they could 'maintain their relationships.'

The home, which employed 19 staff, catered for 24 residents at full capacity.

Carina Lamb, who ran the family business for the past 29 years, said it was 'sad' to come to the end of an era.

The mother-of-two said that the closure was a joint decision with the home's management team.

She said: "It has been a very upsetting and difficult time for ourselves, the residents and their relatives.

"There have been plenty of tears and sleepless nights and we did not take this decision lightly.

"But care homes don't always get the financial rewards they deserve and it is a very tough job to keep this fantastic home going and it was just time for us all to move on with our lives."

Over the years the home has looked after hundreds of elderly people including a couple who were married at the neighbouring St Francis Church and ended up living in the home overlooking the church.

"I am very sad that we are closing and we have had some brilliant residents and loyal staff over the years.

"I would like to say thank you to everyone who has helped us to make it such a wonderful place to live," said Mrs Lamb, a governor at Westholme School who lives with her husband, Philip, in Clayton-le-Dale.

Gladys Rhodes White OBE, from Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "The owners of Heslam House contacted us several weeks ago to let us know that they intended to close the home.

"Following this news our social workers met with residents to ensure that any disruption was kept to a minimum and that they were helped to find alternative accommodation they were happy with."