A COUNCIL home for the elderly is to finally shut its doors despite a battle by relatives of residents to keep it open.

Warthfield Residential Home in Radcliffe Road, Bury, will close on July 30 after 27 years in operation.

The home, which once catered for 36, now has just four residents who have been relocated to accommodation of their own choice.

Warthfield was earmarked for closure along with three others as part of a programme to help elderly people to live in their own homes.

Residents' relatives challenged the closures of both Warthfield and Whittaker House in Radcliffe in the High Court. The judge ruled that the council had not carried out adequate consultation, and the council had to start again. Councillors ultimately gave Whittaker a reprieve, but their verdict for Warthfield remained the same.

The last residents are to leave a week before the building is officially closed, with current staff to be redeployed to other social services facilities.

A retirement village for older people is planned at the site, to include a range of developments for older people.

Business manager Allan Calvert said: "There has been some concerns which we feel we have been able to address.

"We can reassure older people in Bury that sufficient provision remains for anyone who requires a residential care place."