THIRTY pensioners involved in an on-off moving saga have finally settled into their new home.

Staff and residents from Moor Grange Nursing Home, in Spennymoor, have been temporarily moved to Appletree, in Meadowfield, as part of Durham County Council's plan to improve its care for the elderly.

At the end of last week, it looked as though talks between the council and the private owners of Appletree Nursing Home had broken down and the deal to move the residents and staff from Moor Grange would not go ahead.

But last-minute negotiations and compromise on both sides has meant that the move went ahead as planned yesterday.

Last night, a relative of one of the residents, who did not wish to be named, said she was relieved everything had gone without any problems in the end.

She said: "It is smashing, like a hotel. We are pleased everything went smoothly, because the residents and staff are together. They all seemed really happy."

The pensioners were transferred to Appletree by bus and were said to be settling in well last night.

Frances Eales, manager at Appletree, said: "It has been a long process, but the staff from Moor Grange have been absolutely excellent and we have all worked well as a team."

Moor Grange will be demolished to make way for one of the council's new Extra Care units and work will start immediately.

The new complex will be one of six to be built by the council and is similar to one already completed at Southfield Lodge, Crook.

A spokesman for Durham County Council said: "Thankfully the residents are now all relocated following the uncertainty over the past few weeks."