Campaigners are stepping up their fight to save a popular village care home from closure.

East Sussex County Council has threatened to shut 39 Harvard Road, a home built in 1975 for the Ringmer area.

It caters for 38 residents and, until recently, 12 day-care patients.

Ringmer parish councillor Veronica Humphrey said: "The campaign has snowballed as the people of Ringmer want to to see this facility kept open.

"It is popular, it is on the level and people who move in there are able to have visits from friends and relatives who live nearby.

"I have received many letters, including a petition, from people who want to see the facility kept open and expanded.

"One was from a 90-year-old woman complaining about the day centre facility ending."

One of the original reasons put forward for closure was that room sizes did not meet the new standards of care homes laid down by the Government.

It was estimated £1.5 million would need to be spent to bring the home up to standard.

But a Government U-turn in the summer meant only newly-built care homes now have to comply with the tough new standards.

A review of small care homes is being carried out by the county council.

John Windebank, of the social services department, will be addressing a meeting about the future of the rest home at the village hall, Ringmer, on Thursday, January 9, at 7.30pm.

Homes in Homefield Place and Homefield Cottages, Seaford, are also under threat.

Coun Humphrey said: "We want as many of the people of Ringmer to attend as possible to show the strength of feeling against the closure of this home."