THE closure of another care home in North Yorkshire has put added pressure on county services and forced more than a dozen elderly residents to look for new homes.

Families of those staying at de Mowbray House, Sowerby, near Thirsk, received notification of the closure last week and have one month to find alternative accommodation.

Trevor Hemingway, who has run the care home with his wife, Jan, for almost 20 years, said rising costs and lack of funding had been behind the decision to close the business.

"I am angry and absolutely devastated that it has come to this, but we have no alternative but to close," he said.

"We don't receive sufficient funding from the local government to go on. For the last two years, we have had to fund much of the home from our own pockets."

The couple will continue to run the adjoining 21 extra-sheltered housing units in de Mowbray Court, while the home, a large Georgian building, is likely to be sold for development. Three of the home's 23 employees will continue to work for the Hemingways.

The announcement has come as a shock to the family of Elsie Buxton, 83, who has lived in the home for eight years and needs 24-hour care.

Mrs Buxton's daughter, Hazel Foxton, has applied for her mother to move to nearby Sowerby House nursing home, but no places are currently available. She is now concerned about where she will live.

North Yorkshire Social Services spokeswoman Jean Johnson said the closure of residential homes throughout the county - and nationwide - was a growing concern.

"There are still bed places available but they are not in an abundance and capacity is becoming a problem," said Mrs Johnson.

"There are long-term plans to develop extra care housing in North Yorkshire to provide flats for the elderly where care is available 24-hours-a-day if necessary."

She also said that social services will be working to ensure that the residents were found homes and that distress was kept to a minimum