Court injunction in care home row

The family of 101-year-old Sarah Rutter are opposing the closure

Families fighting the closure of a Teesside care home have won a court injunction preventing the removal of elderly residents from the premises.

Stockton Council is in the process of closing Parkview care home, in Thorntree Road, Thornaby.

But some family members say the move is too disruptive and upsetting for elderly people in frail health.

The council said it works in the interests of the residents and plans to appeal against the injunction.

Sarah Walker, great-granddaughter of 101-year-old resident Sarah Rutter, is among those fighting the closure plans.

She said: "To move her at this stage of her life could be detrimental to her health.

"We want her to stay here with the people that she knows, where she gets fantastic care, support and love."

The injunction was won over the Bank Holiday weekend by a human rights lawyer acting on behalf of the family.

Stockton Council said the "out of hours" hearing did not allow them to put their case across, and added that no residents were being moved with unnecessary haste.

The temporary injunction has been granted while campaigners mount a long-term legal challenge.