A COUPLE with a relative in a closure-threatened care home have spoken up for the home's owner.

Ann Langley's mother is a resident in the Graceland private care home, in Guisborough, and says proprietor Barry Parvin is being made the subject of attacks and speculation.

Mrs Langley says people are diverting attention away from a funding crisis, which she says is the real reason for the closure threat.

Both she and husband Derrick organised a protest march through Guisborough at the weekend, which Mr Langley said received "heart warming support".

Mr Parvin is on holiday in the US and Mrs Langley said people were using his absence as an opportunity to make claims he is to sell the land to developers.

"Mr Parvin has no intention of selling the home to developers,'' Mrs Langley said.

Last month, Mr Parvin announced plans to close the home. He said Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Langbaurgh Primary Care Trust were not paying enough for him to pay his staff above the minimum wage.

But the council, which is responsible for 14 of the residents, while the remaining 37 are looked after by Langbaurgh PCT, said it was making a £52,000-a-year profit.

Mrs Langley said: "We will not give way and we are not prepared to put up with the derogatory and remarks about Mr Parvin. We have proof to show Mr Parvin is not responsible."

A petition will be presented to Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar.