WORK has begun to demolish a former council-run care home.

Grampian House, in Peterlee, was one of five Durham County Council care homes closed last year.

Last November, a council planning committee granted permission for the home to be demolished and replaced with a new 55-bed Helen McArdle Care facility.

The building was sold for £155,000 and demolition work has now begun on site.

As of November, Helen McArdle Care had 17 care homes across the region, employing 1,150 staff, with a turnover of £32.1m.

It is also planning new homes in Newton Aycliffe and Jesmond.

Work has also begun to demolish Cheveley House, in Belmont, Durham, where planning permission has been granted for 26 new homes, to be delivered by All Saints Living.

As of last month (January), Mendip House in Chester-le-Street and Feryemount House in Ferryhill were under offer, having been first advertised for sale in October 2014.

Weardale Independent councillor has made a cheeky £25,000 offer to buy Newtown House, in Stanhope, which was formerly home to his late mother, Patricia.