A PRIVATE care home is planning to spend £250,000 on upgrading its facilities.

Work has started at Middleton Hall, in Middleton St George, near Darlington, on a project to convert bedrooms into studio apartments.

The idea of the studio apartments is to give residents greater independence and more living space.

Managing director Jeremy Walford said the studios would set new standards for care.

"We have a record for innovation in the industry," he said.

"Our residential care apartments, which were launched three years ago, have been very popular offering an alternative to traditional residential care. They were designed for people looking for independence and the reassurance of care should they need it.

"Our studios will cater for residents with a greater care need who want their own living space and a less institutional lifestyle than in a traditional nursing care home setting."

Mr Walford said the apartments would offer rooms 50 per cent larger than the average care home, each with a full-size en-suite bathroom.

The first six of the 13 studios planned will be completed by Christmas. Several prospective residents have already put their names down for the rooms.

Mr Walford said: "We are committed to continuous improvement at Middleton Hall. We are working hard to maintain our position at the luxury end of the residential care market with facilities that are aimed at self-funding residents wanting a high quality of service."

Middleton Hall announced earlier this year that its turnover had doubled in three years to reach £1.3m.