A LOCAL authority which plans to close 17 of its 25 residential care homes has defended its decision.

Durham County Council has been criticised by angry relatives over its proposals.

Families of elderly people living in Stoneleigh residential home, in Barnard Castle, are preparing a legal challenge against plans to replace the home with self-contained flats - saying they are unsuitable.

A spokesman for the county council said it could not leave the home as it is. He said it would cost £60m to upgrade 17 homes to meet modern standards.

He said: "We can't do nothing, because the home would close if we just did absolutely nothing.

"It would not meet the new standards. If we could afford to bring it up to standard it would have to close and people would have to move while work is completed.

"There would be movement of residents whatever happens. That is unavoidable."

Objectors said they hoped to arrange a meeting with senior officers at the council about the plans.

They are keen to involve relatives of the other 16 homes that are to close.

The Durham County branch of Unison will take calls from relatives to pass on to advisors at Relatives Action Group for the Elderly (Rage).

The trade union organisation has members who work at the residential homes but it is not directly involved with residents' concerns.

Unison can be contacted on 0191-383 4617/3658.