Former staff at the French Convalescent Home have won permission to use an old shop as offices for their new home care service.

Brighton and Hove Council approved an application to convert the premises in Edward Street, Brighton, into offices and a drop-in centre at a planning meeting on Wednesday.

It means the new service Renaissance Care should be up and running by mid-August. An official opening will be conducted by Des Turner, MP for Kemp Town.

Ex-manager of the convalescent home Catherine Gennaro and around 15 former staff decided to set up the non-profit making business two months ago.

They wanted to keep the spirit of the home alive following its closure with a new project which would go into the homes of elderly people and offer personal care, a friendly chat and help with DIY, gardening and shopping.

Mrs Gennaro plans to register the company as a charity.

She said: "This is an important step for us and we are delighted the council has granted us permission. It means we can go ahead now with our preparations. I cannot see there being any more hold-ups and we should be operating from next month.

"We chose Edward Street because it's a ground-floor office in the centre of town for easy access. It also has a flat above the office so we can have someone resident on the premises."

She added: "We just want to get on with it. So many of my staff are just waiting around and they are very keen to get going again."

The idea for Renaissance Care formed while campaigners were looking into the possibility of buying the French Convalescent Home in De Courcel Avenue, Kemp Town, and keeping it going as a care home.

Mrs Gennaro said: "When it closed we felt the experience and knowledge we had could be put to good use by providing help for people at home.

"If there is something we can give to older people, we would prefer to be out there doing it rather than sitting around waiting for a job to turn up."

The French Convalescent Home is due to be handed over to new owners Bovis on July 31.