THE threatened closure of a nursing home is "a scandal which needs to be addressed by the community," said MP Ivor Caplin.

The Hove MP spoke out at a meeting with staff, residents and concerned families at Montgomery House, Hove.

The home in Montgomery Street will close in June because owners SHEBAH, the Society for Housing the Elderly in Brighton and Hove, say it is no longer financially viable.

Staff and residents were shocked when they received letters saying the home, opened nearly 50 years ago, would close on June 18 with the loss of 35 jobs and leaving 30 elderly residents homeless.

Sister Marie Sheriff said: "No one discussed the closure with us. They just handed us letters."

Mr Caplin said: "I have spoken to staff who feel badly treated by SHEBAH and I think there has been a dramatic failure of communications.

"There is no solution except to get people talking so they can thrash out the issues and hopefully take the nursing home into the future."

Tearful residents gathered to hear Mr Caplin talk but many were too upset to speak.

Aspokeswoman for SHEBA said: "With low fees and high nursing costs, it's just not a viable proposition."

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