All council-run old peoples' homes across East Sussex could be closed because of the £9 million cost of bringing them up to modern standards.

East Sussex County Council's ruling Cabinet is expected to agree tomorrow to review the future of its homes.

Closing the homes is the most radical option the council will investigate in a review scheduled to last 18 months.

Other options include selling the properties to private operators or keeping some of them under council control.

The council estimates it would cost £9 million to upgrade 12 of the 14 homes to meet the requirements of last year's Care Standards Act.

Two of the homes, Parker House in Eastbourne and Haldane House in Bexhill cannot be upgraded and their future is already being reviewed.

The council spends £6.3 million a year running its homes, a huge burden on the cash-strapped authority. Maintenance costs are more than £900,000 a year.

Keith Glazier, Cabinet member for social services, said: "The problem is not just for us as a council, it is actually for the majority of councils in the country, especially in the South-East.

"The implementation of care standards is going to have a huge impact."

The ruling Conservative group promised at this year's local elections to work with the private sector to overcome problems linked to running the homes.

David Tutt, Lib Dem opposition deputy leader, said the homes should be transferred to the private sector as going concerns rather than closed.

He said: "There are a lot of private homes closing so what are we going to do with the people? Bed blocking will grow out of all proportion."

Reviews on Parker House and Haldane House are expected to be completed in January.

If the council agrees to investigate the future of the remaining 12 homes, the first review should be completed by April and the last by July 2003.