Families of elderly residents facing eviction from their care home are taking their fight to the High Court today.

A two-day judicial review was due to start in a bid to overturn a decision by East Sussex County Council to move eight elderly residents.

Families fear the shock of moving their frail relatives out of the Moreton Centre in Boscobel Road, St Leonards, could kill them.

The Tory-run council sanctioned the decision to develop the centre just before Christmas, triggering anger from relatives.

Campaigners took to the streets to muster support against the ruling and last month a petition carrying more than 4,500 names was handed to council bosses.

Now, campaigners are travelling to the High Court in an effort to safeguard the centre for the pensioners, many of whom are in their 80s and 90s.

The council wants to turn the home into a 30-place rehabilitation centre to ease hospital bed-blocking using £1 million Government cash.

However, the development has been halted by the family of one resident, Clara Dudley, 86, who has been at the home for seven years.

Mrs Dudley's family won permission for a review after going to the High Court to say the council acted unfairly.

Her daughter, Norma, said: "I believe we have a very strong case. We are taking this course of action on behalf of our relatives who are unable to fight for themselves.

"It is extremely distressing for them. They have forged strong relationships with staff and other residents and for them to be parted would be awful. There has been anxiety but we are determined."

At the last High Court hearing in January, it was claimed by Mrs Dudley's barrister the consultation process was flawed.

The court heard residents were initially told a decision on the home would be made on February 8 but the date was brought forward to December 18.