CAMPAIGNERS against the closure of 16 North-East care homes have lodged a human rights challenge through the courts.

Durham County Council has just days to respond to "a letter before claim" from human rights solicitor Alastair Wallace, over the authority's plans to close Stoneleigh care home, in Barnard Castle, County Durham.

The county council's plans to modernise its care homes have caused uproar.

And now Mr Wallace, who works for Tyndallwoods solicitors, in Birmingham, says the county council has clearly breached the Human Rights Act.

Mr Wallace, who has not revealed the name of his client, said: "We are very interested in the impact the closure of Stoneleigh may have on the residents.

"We are currently considering the case and, on the basis of the information that is before us, we take the view that the council appear to have acted unlawfully.

"In the light of that we have issued a letter before claim challenging the authority on is actions, and I personally cannot see the council backing down on their defence."

Durham County Council has a matter of days to respond to the letter, before it will be required to either accept a High Court challenge or accept it has made a mistake.

If the county council does accept responsibility, in respect that it has acted wrongly, then it will be given the chance to resolve the problem.

But the protestors are predicting a negative response from the council, which will mean a case before the High Court.

A county council spokes-man said: "We are not aware or have any record of any letter referring to a legal challenge, but if and when we do receive one we will deal with it in the way we feel appropriate."