More than 250 elderly people could face an uncertain future when East Sussex care homes close.

Terry Fribbens, vice-chairman of the East Sussex and Brighton and Hove Care Homes Association, said the rate of care homes closing means 255 elderly residents face being moved to different homes when Government care guidelines come into force in April.

Mr Fribbens, who runs the Sunnydale Care Home in Eastbourne, said: "Seventeen care homes across East Sussex are expected to close with an average of 15 per home.

"What is happening is there are vacancies in homes but no-one to fill them because the council cannot afford to pay for their care when they leave hospital.

"There are 150 people in hospitals who could come back into the community.

"Because the care homes are not running on capacity they cannot afford to pay for the changes in their homes."

National Minimum Standards coming into force in April mean many privately-run homes have to make changes to comply with the new standards. But many can not afford to do so.

Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson said he had given warnings about the closures for years.

He said: "I have been making speeches about this for years. The care homes have been hit by a double whammy.

The Government has cut funding for that part of the social services, which means East Sussex pays the lowest amount of money for its care.

"There are also the national standards. Some of them are good but many of them will make smaller homes close because they cannot afford to alter their buildings.

"The Government is taking no notice of this. It has invested money to help ease bed blocking but there will not be the beds available in care homes."

Mr Fribbens said owners were tired of the battle to keep their care homes open and many would give up the fight.

He said: "People are tired. They have said they are feeling jaded with all the new legislation coming in.

"Many are trying to sell the land to developers. They are just tired."