CARE home bosses will meet with Hyndburn Council's chief executive to discuss the potential closure of a "luxury" care home for the elderly.

Since 1994, The Abbeyfield Society has operated the care home at grade-II listed Oak Hill Park Mansion, dating back to the 19th century. In 1889 the estate belonged to Reginald Gervis Hargreaves, who was married to Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.

Charity bosses wrote to Hyndburn Council leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson, last month to inform him that the charity was beginning consultations on the closure of the home.

Chief executive David McCullough said a review was carried out into the quality, safety and long-term financial viability of the home.

And it was found there were 22 services, Oak Hill Mansion included, which either no longer meet the needs of people living there, are unlikely to fulfil future regulatory obligations, or will be unable to meet the high standards people expect.

Consultation on the closure of the facility will run through to the end of November.

The proposal had been due to be discussed by Hyndburn Council’s communities and wellbeing scrutiny committee but the debate was delayed until representatives from Abbeyfield have met with council chief executive David Welsby.

Abbeyfield Hyndburn Volunteer Committee member Catherine Hooper told councillors: "The concern really is for the residents, not the building.

"It has been such a lovely and happy house but they are thinking about closing it and they didn't have the courtesy to tell the volunteer committee.

"A number of residents have already moved out and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because no-one will move in while there is this threat hanging over the house so it becomes unsustainable."

Ms Hooper added a clause in the 999 year lease granted to Abbeyfield by Hyndburn Council meant the building had to be used as a care home for the elderly or the lease could be forfeited.

The mansion at Oak Hill was built by Thomas Hargreaves, owner of the Broad Oak Print Works, shortly after he purchased the land in 1815.

In 1891 the building was bought by Hyndburn Council and used as a museum until 1947.

However the building was then left to fall into a state of disrepair for a number of years, and was famously up for sale for just £1 providing the new owner would help return it to its former glory.

The ‘luxury’ care home opened in April 1994 following an £800,000 transformation.