ELDERLY people in a North Yorkshire nursing home are facing a worrying time after discovering they must find somewhere else to live.

About 20 residents at Long Marston Manor Nursing Home, Long Marston, between York and Wetherby, have been told it is to close at the end of January.

Care home bosses at the Church Street premises said the building had been sold and the new owner had decided not to keep the business running.

Social services chiefs at North Yorkshire County Council have been informed of the closure plans.

Long Marston is one of a growing number of private homes in North Yorkshire and East Riding to announce it is to shut.

It follows Wilberforce Lodge, in Pocklington, Blair Atholl, in Haxby, Dower House, in Escrick, and Strayside Nursing Home, in Harrogate.

Home manager Sandra Day said: "Long Marston Manor has been for sale for some time.

"The directors and shareholders stepped back from the running of the business 18 months ago for family and personal reasons.

"They put the home up for sale and commissioned a care management team to run the home in the meantime.

"The home has now been sold and the new owner is not going to continue the business. The home is to close."

Seamus Breen, head of community care at North Yorkshire County Council, said: "We first heard about the closure on Monday.

"It is our understanding that around 20 residents are affected, four of whom are funded by social services. A couple are also funded by City of York Council.

"The home recently changed hands in terms of new owners.

"We have advised the home that if they are letting individual residents and relatives know they should give them our name and telephone number. We will be able to tell self-funded residents what their options are."

Updated: 10:52 Wednesday, December 19, 2001