AN appeal to find organisations to provide day care for the elderly in Darlington has failed to attract any new businesses.

But Darlington Borough Council is hopeful that more care providers will come forward in the future.

The council had hoped to attract people to provide day care services for the elderly in the town to replace council-owned homes that are due to close.

The council has decided to close its residential and care homes because it can not afford to make improvements demanded by the Government.

Councillor Bill Dixon said: "We had hoped to attract new providers into the market, but this time it has not been possible to get any new tenders.

"We want to make sure we have more residential care beds, so we are ready to deal with any increases in demand.

"We want to be ready if we come across problems in the future.

"Following the tendering, there are now other organisations looking into providing residential care, and next time we go out to tender we will hopefully be able to increase the capacity for residential care we have.

"This has to be some comfort to the community who need this service."

It is hoped the companies interested in providing new care homes would make purpose-built day care centres.

Current providers Age Concern, the Rydale Nursing Home in Darlington and the Eastbourne Nursing Home have all been awarded contracts to continue to provide day care for older people in the town.