A POPULAR care home that shut it's doors in October could be knocked down to make way for a new facility, it's been revealed.

A shock announcement was made in September that Morton House, in Grange Lane, Fernhill Heath, near Worcester, was to close due to money troubles.

Now plans have been submitted this month by care company, Majesticare, to demolish Morton House and replace it with a new 66 bed care home, including a dementia unit.

Should this new home get the go-ahead it will offer more than double the amount of rooms in the previous facility, which could house up to 32 people.

It closed amid speculation that there were care problems at the home, after quality assurance and contract monitoring visits by Worcestershire County Council and South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group to Morton House raised concerns about care delivery and maintenance of the home.

But these were put to rest by the county council and the owner Narinder Sanghera, who said it was due to financial constraints she was planning to sell the home.

At the time she issued a statement saying in part: "We made the decision to sell the home at the beginning of the year and we have worked tirelessly since then to secure the sale of the home as a going concern to prevent disruption to the residents and staff.

"Unfortunately as we have not been able to sell the home, we had no option but to take the extremely sad decision to close the home which, we have run as a family business for 28 years. Our decision was not prompted by the inspection undertaken by the council."

The news left both staff and residents extremely disappointed, with 19 people needing new accommodation and around 30 to 40 staff searching for jobs.

At a farewell party thrown for the residents in October Roy Bedington, 82, who had been at the home about two and a half years, said he was against the closure.

"I am a bit miffed," he said. "This was my own when I had nowhere else to go when my wife died and I had to sell my house.

"But of course now they are closing down. The staff here are very good, the food is excellent. I have enjoyed my time here and I only wish I could stay.

"I am a bit worried about some of my friends here, they are going to be difficult to get anywhere, I think it could affect their health, I myself will be OK."

Majesticare has around 16 care facilities across the country, including Tewkesbury Care Home.

The application will be considered by Wychavon District Council at a later date.