ONE of Darlington's council-run care homes recently scheduled for closure is to be demolished.

Councillors last night agreed that Darlington Borough Council's Moorcroft home should be demolished to thwart vandals.

A report to the council's cabinet ratification committee by Colin Morris, director of social services, said the home was surplus to requirements.

Councillors were also informed of urgent safety work costing £35,000, undertaken to remove asbestos from the home, which was the first identified for closure and was vacated at the end of last month.

Mr Morris' report said: "During preparatory work regarding the future of the property, asbestos was identified in a number of locations.

"Although considered safe at present, concerns were expressed that should the building be vandalised this would constitute a severe hazard."

The councillors also agreed to declare all of the authority's residential homes as "surplus to requirements".

Earlier this year, the council agreed to close all of its residential homes for elderly people.

The latest report stated: "The director of development and environment considers there is no potential market for the building as it stands.

"It is felt, therefore, the most prudent course of action to avoid the building becoming vandalised, an eyesore to the locality and unsafe, is to demolish it.

"The estimated cost of demolition and removal of soil is £30,000, including soil, reseeding and on-site security for the period of demolition."

The meeting also agreed that the closed homes could be disposed of "as required in the best interest of the council".

Councillor Bill Dixon told the meeting that the families of former Moorcroft residents, and staff at the homes, should be thanked for making the closure as easy as possible.