The human rights of some 700 elderly residents were breached during a council's planned closure of its care homes, an independent inquiry has found.

Durham County Council has come under continued fire from residents, relatives and a campaign group over its £18m initiative to close 17 of its 25 care homes in response to Government calls to modernise elderly care facilities.

The crux of the row centres on Stoneleigh residential home, in Barnard Castle, which is due to be demolished to make way for a modern care unit designed to give residents more independence.

But relatives of residents have formed an action group to block the closure, which has received the backing of the national body the Relatives Action Group for the Elderly (RAGE).

The independent commission was led by academic David Fruin and human rights solicitor Bernadette Livesey, who dismissed many of the relatives' complaints but found that the council "did not consider information about residents' rights arising from Article 8 of Schedule 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998, that is the right to respect for private and family life, home and correspondence."

Mark Oley, national citizens advocate for RAGE, said: "The electorate in County Durham should note with real alarm that the report states, quite clearly, that the council ignored the human rights of not just Stoneleigh at Barnard Castle, but all other 16 homes. Compensation should be paid."

The Durham branch of Unison has also called for an explanation from the council, but the local authority last night remained defiant saying that the cabinet will be urged to press ahead with its closure when it meets next Thursday.

A spokesman for the county council said: "Their findings say none of the complaints has been upheld.

"The county council does not accept the findings of the inquiry panel relating to residents' rights arising from Article 8 of Schedule 1 of the Human Rights Act.

"This was not a complaint raised by relatives of the residents, but an issue raised by the inquiry panel members themselves."

A public meeting will be held to discuss the independent inquiry at Glaxo Sports and Social Club, Barnard Castle, at noon on Saturday.

Other 16 homes proposed for closure/replacement: Albion House, Willington; East Green, West Auckland; Glenroyd House, Consett; Lynwood House, Lanchester; Syke House, Burnopfield; Watling House, Leadgate; Hackworth House, Shildon; Moor Grange, Spennymoor; Cheveley House, Belmont, Durham; Lowland House, Fishburn; Wellfield House, Murton; Milbank House, Seaham; Essyn House, Easington Village; Kepier House, Durham.