FINANCIAL difficulties have forced one of Minehead's three nursing homes to close its doors today with the loss of 19 jobs.

All 13 elderly residents at the Minehead and District Nursing Home, in The Avenue, have been found alternative accommodation, although two other homes in the town - Oak Lodge and The Windsor - are already full.

Martin Carter, spokesman for Somerset Health Authority, which jointly registers care homes with Somerset County Council, confirmed the home had been having money troubles for sometime.

On Tuesday he told the Free Press: "We are confident we will have found places for all of the residents by Friday afternoon with as little disruption to them as possible.

"We have known this home has been facing difficulties for some time, which have been largely financial, so social services had already started making alternative arrangements for the 13 residents."

He said there was no question that the standard of care received by the residents had been anything other than first rate.

He added: "The commitment the staff showed over Christmas and New Year was exemplary. I don't want to cast any aspirations over the quality of the staff or the care provided."

It is believed the finances of the home have had to be juggled to such an extent that the 19 staff members have received their monthly pay in two separate amounts.

The intention was to ensure the home remained staffed and open over the Christmas and New Year period to avoid the elderly residents having to be moved at that time of the year.

The home can care for up to 26 residents, but in recent months that number has dwindled to just 13.

That has had a knock-on effect on the business' books as bosses were only receiving £47.14 a day from the Government to cover the care costs of each resident. Experts estimate a nursing home needs at least 40 residents to break even when that is the level of funding offered to them.

In addition, the value of nursing homes nationally has also dropped dramatically over the last five years with many home owners having to face up to the fact the value of their properties may have plummeted by as much as £100,000.

The Minehead and District Nursing Home was first opened in June 1989 and was run by Martin Harborne until April last year. The home is owned by Virginia Stock Limited.