Residents fighting to save their care home from closure suffered bitter defeat at the High Court in London today.

They had campaigned to overturn a decision by East Sussex County Council to axe the Moreton Centre in Boscobel Road, St Leonards.

However, this morning Judge Mr Justice Maurice Kay ruled in favour of the council following a two-day judicial review last month.

Families had argued the trauma of moving their frail relatives, many in their 80s and 90s, could possibly kill them.

They said strong relationships with staff and other users had been forged and to take that away would cause emotional hardship and confusion.

Relatives also criticised the council, saying its consultation process was flawed because it gave little time for proper representation.

However, the judge said the council had properly consulted residents and all other "interested parties".

He also rejected claims the council had failed to take account of statistics indicating old people moved from the homes faced a much higher risk of mortality.

Research on that issue was "not all one way" and the judge said: "I find the claimants' reliance on this research material to be massively overstated."

The council's proposals to shut the centre has been fought hard by the seven residents and their families as well as more than 100 old people who use it for respite and day care.

The unsuccessful judicial review challenge to the council's December 2002 proposal to close the home was spearheaded by the family of resident Clara Dudley, 86.

Dismissing the case, Mr Justice Kay said the council had excluded no one from the consultation process.

He said the arguments put forward by residents, their families and solicitors had all been "duly considered".

The council plans to turn the home into a 30-place rehabilitation centre to ease hospital bed-blocking.

Hastings and Rye Labour MP Michael Foster believes the council is open to persuasion to retain at least the day centre.

He said: "A day centre at Moreton would complement the proposal for the intermediate care beds to be built on the site by the health service."