CARE home workers last night condemned their "disgraceful" treatment 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 lodges as part of a "refocusing of priorities".

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

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

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

One care worker, who asked not to be named, said: "We have been treated absolutely disgracefully and we are also concerned about the effect it will have on the residents."

Trees Park Healthcare has not said how many staff and residents will be affected.

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."

Trees Park Healthcare, formerly known as Trees Park Village, was 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.

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said: "We have got people from social services at Trees Park evaluating the situation."