More than 30 elderly residents of a County Durham care home set for closure have been forced to find new accommodation after learning they are being made homeless.

GMB Union, which represents the interests of workers at Hallgarth Care Home in Durham, said the closure was a "cold-blooded decision based on profit".

It is understood 40 staff have been looking for work elsewhere after the announcement was made by Four Seasons Health Care.

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The union has since called on Durham County Council to take the facility back under its control.

Etain Stobbart, GMB organiser, said: “This is a cold-blooded decision make based on profit alone that has left dozens of residents and workers stunned. 

“Vulnerable older people and their families are desperately scrabbling around for somewhere to live, while workers have no idea how they are going to keep food on the table and a roof over their families’ heads. 

“Durham County Council can sort this out by taking the facility back in house.

“We urge them to do so and save unnecessary trauma for residents, workers and their families.” 

Neil Jarvis, Durham County Council’s senior commissioning delivery manager, said the authority was working with the current care provider, residents, and families to explore alternative care options and was providing ongoing support to residents and staff.

He said: “We were sorry to hear of the planned closure of Hallgarth Care Home and we appreciate this may be an upsetting time for residents and their families.

“We are working with the current care provider, residents, and families to explore alternative care options and are providing ongoing support to residents and staff.

“As of June 30, the majority of residents have already chosen and moved to other care services, with only seven residents remaining in the home.

“We have available care home capacity through our established contracts and the remaining residents all have plans in place to move to alternative homes in the coming weeks.

“We are not the landlord or leaseholder of the building, so it would be inappropriate for us to comment on plans for its future use.”

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Mr Jarvis said the council’s Care Academy will be supporting affected staff who wish to seek employment elsewhere in the sector.

In May, the company which operates Shotley Park Residential Home, in Shotley Bridge, near Consett, said rising operational costs, the increasingly price of energy and food, have made the business untenable.

It meant 38 residents had to find a new home and 63 employees lost their jobs there.

Four Seasons Health Care said the closure of Hallgarth Care Home in Durham had been a ‘difficult decision’.

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A spokesperson said: “The wellbeing of our residents has been our priority ever since the home opened and will remain our priority until we close in August.

“We are working closely with Durham County Council’s Social Services team and family members to ensure suitable alternative care arrangements are made for the seven residents remaining in the home.

“We would like to thank all members of our hard working team for caring for the residents at the home and we have made alternative positions available to affected members of staff.”