A HUNDRED staff at Scarborough's BUPA Belvedere Hospital face redundancy after the shock news at the weekend that it is to close in ten days.

Hopes were high earlier this month that the hospital, which has operated for more than 60 years, would be taken over by another private hospital company, but a spokesman for BUPA said negotiations had fallen through.

In a statement, BUPA said "every effort" was made by the company to reach a deal wih Preston company, Abbey Hospitals, but they were unable to reach an agreement.

The hospital, which for many years was run as a nursing home by Scarborough hospital consultants, is due to close on May 31.

It has 37 beds and three operating theatres and is in one of the most exclusive parts of Scarborough, off Filey Road.

Nurse Sue Bacon said some staff were in tears.

"As far as I know, redundancy is being offered and attempts are being made to find alternative jobs, but this could mean travelling to Hull or Leeds, which is not possible for many people."

Gilly Collinson, communications manager for Scarborough and North-East Yorkshire NHS Trust, said: "The news has come as a huge disappointment to the trust, but there is a determination locally that it will not mark the end of private health care in Scarborough.

"It will be a great loss to the trust, and will do nothing to improve an already difficult recruitment climate for the trust."