AN EXTENSION is going ahead at a nursing home in County Durham. The work has already started at the site in Lizard Lane, Sedgefield.

The Willows Nursing Home and Willowdene Residential Homes have been sold following the decision by owner Sivaguranathan Srirangalingham, to retire from the care home sector.

The buyers are Jennifer Houghton and her husband, from Gateshead, who together own numerous care homes throughout the North-East.

The two homes are single-storey properties set back from the B1278 road, to the north of Sedgefield.

They properties are registered for 16 nursing and 12 residential (elderly mentally ill) patients.

Mr Srirangalingham bought The Willows Nursing Home from the local authority in 1988 and began the construction of Willowdene Residential Care Home on the same site in 1995.

The properties stand in their own grounds with gardens and car parking. The homes were sold with the benefit of planning permission for a 16-bedroom extension. The develop had already commenced up to foundation level when the sale was agreed.

Julie Hewitt, who handled the sale of The Willows and Willowdene from Christie & Co's Newcastle office, said: "The new owners are continuing with the extension of the business to bring it in line with the Government's new standards for 2002."

The Willows and Willowdene were sold for an undisclosed figure off a freehold asking price of £495,000 for the freehold interest.

Meanwhile Christie & Co has been appointed to handle the sale of The Cliff Residential Home at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool.

An asking price of £350,000 is sought for the freehold in this substantial detached property, which is situated on the seafront. The property has a purpose-built extension to the rear as well as a rear car park and a front garden.

The care home is offered for sale as a going concern and is currently registered for 20 residents, who are accommodated in 16 single and two double bedrooms.

The property is being sold because the current owners now wish to concentrate on another business interest.

Julie Hewitt, who heads the healthcare department at Christie & Co's Newcastle office, comments: "The sale of The Cliff Residential Home presents a good opportunity to acquire a well-established care home business as a going concern. It is an attractive property close to the seafront and has built up a worthy reputation over the years."