CARE home workers in Darlington have condemned their treatment as "disgraceful" after being told they are to lose their jobs.

Trees Park Healthcare, the independent residential care community based at Middleton St George, near Darlington, is closing three of lodges as part of a 'refocusing of priorities.'

But the closures will lead to dozens of carers and auxiliary workers losing their jobs and elderly people having to find new homes.

People affected by the closures had no idea their jobs were under threat until they were given three months' notice.

The firm which owns the site, Affinity Healthcare, has been unable to offer staff alternative employment and elderly residents will not be moved to the other lodges.

One care worker, who asked not to be named, said: "We have been told we could lose our jobs any time in the next three months.

"We have been treated absolutely disgracefully and we are also concerned about the effect it will have on the residents who will lose their homes."

Trees Park Healthcare has not revealed how many staff members and residents will be affected by the closure of the three lodges.

A spokeswoman for Trees Park Healthcare said: "This is part of a refocusing of priorities of the healthcare site to safeguard the future with substantial investment currently being made in a range of new and essential hospital services.

"There is a surplus of beds in the nursing home and care sector and we will work closely with the relevant authorities to ensure residents' needs are dealt with sensitively. The staff involved are care staff and ancillary workers and we would expect them to find alternative employment in the sector.

"We offer them full support in this and good wishes for the future."

Trees Park Healthcare, formerly known as Trees Park Village, was only bought by Affinity Healthcare in May last year.

It recently underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment, which included the opening of a 20-bed acute psychiatric care unit.

Last year, Trees Park Healthcare congratulated Darlington Borough Council on its decision to close five old people's complexes, saying residents should be given the benefit of more modern facilities to live in.

A spokesman for the council said: "We have got people from social services at Trees Park evaluating the situation and finding out exactly what implications this news has for us.