A CARE home is set to close, leaving more than 40 residents having to uproot to accommodation elsewhere.

Belgarth Care Home in Barrowford will shut with residents moving to other sites in Lancashire.

The service looks after generally older people or others with mental disabilities and has room for 47 residents.

Lancashire County Council said the owners of the care home, Sage CAre Ltd, have decided to close the service after it was given a rating of 'requires improvement' following its latest CQC inspection. 

Jackie Hanson, chief nurse at NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), who commission beds from the care home, said the closure of the facility was 'very sad'.

She said: "Our concern is first and foremost for the residents and the staff who will be affected by this.

"We will work with our partners to support the residents, their families and carers and staff at the home.

"As a matter of priority we will work with Lancashire County Council, and other partners to ensure the safe and careful transfer of residents to alternative homes as soon as we are able to do so.

"Care Homes play an important role in supporting health services in the area.

"I would like to thank those care homes who continue to provide excellent care for their residents across East Lancashire, and I would like to reassure the public that the CCG is working hard with all care homes in the area to support them to continue to deliver the excellent care they do day, and night."

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health and wellbeing for Lancashire County Council, said: "This is a difficult and unsettling time for the residents at Belgarth Care Home and their families.

"Our main concern is to ensure they are safe and well, and can be relocated to other care homes that can fully meet their needs.

"The owners of the care home, Sage Care Ltd, have decided to close the service after it was given a rating of 'requires improvement' following its latest CQC inspection.

"A meeting was held on Wednesday 4 October to ensure people who use the service, their families, and care home staff were informed of the closure and had the opportunity to find out about plans in place to support them at this difficult time.

"It's crucial that we provide good care and support for everyone involved during what is obviously a very unsettling time. We've provided each person with a social worker or nurse assessor to give expert help and advice throughout the process. 

"In addition, our staff will work with each person affected by the closure to find alternative care or nursing homes that will provide the best support for them.

"We will do all we can to ensure people are safe and well and settled in a new home as quickly as possible."