Elderly residents who fear they may have to leave their sheltered homes say such action would be like "hammering nails into their coffins".

Twenty-seven residents living at Stonehurst Court in Down Terrace, Brighton, have been told by Brighton and Hove City Council their bedsits may be turned into accommodation for vulnerable people under a review of services.

However, the elderly residents say they are the vulnerable ones. They want to be left in peace to enjoy their twilight years.

All have vowed to fight any changes to the housing scheme and have begun lobbying MPs and councillors.

Penny Alexander, 83, has lived in her ground floor bedsit at Stonehurst Court for 14 years.

She has branded any closure plans "inhuman" and has walked the streets urging people to sign a petition against them.

She said: "The council told us in February we may have to leave. Since then we have had no answers when or if this will happen. We have written numerous letters to the council and MPs but still no answer. The not knowing is making us ill with worry.

"We are happy and content here and do not need the upheaval at our time of life. It is a lovely little cul-de sac which is tranquil and safe. The garden area is filled with lavender bushes and there are seats outside where we sit in nice weather.

"Many of the residents here are quite ill and just want to live out their last few days in peace. We are all living on borrowed time."

Mrs Alexander described how she had voluntarily given up a three-bedroom house in Brighton to move into her bedsit on the understanding she had a home for life.

She said: "I love my flat and have done everything I can to make it comfortable. When I moved in, it was not in a good state so I spent a lot of money and time on it.

"I could not bear to leave and be split up from my friends. There is such a strong sense of community here and we all take care of each other. I have been ill and in and out of hospital recently and a neighbour brought in cooked meals for me. We are the vulnerable ones and deserve security and stability.

"To kick us out would be callous. It would be putting the nails into our coffins - the stress would be too much for us."

She said she had lost ten pounds in weight in the last few weeks due to the worry.

Angus Murden, 75, who has lived in Stonehurst Court for ten years, said: "I am staying put. When I signed my tenancy agreement, I believed I had a home for life. I am happy here."

He is registered severely disabled and cannot walk far due to lung problems.

Harry Payne, 79, said: "I rarely go out due to the poor state of my health but I am very happy here. I do not want to leave."

A spokeswoman for the committee of the Stonehurst Court Residents' Association said: "We do not wish to lose our homes. We have been fighting the proposal to close Stonehurst Court for six months."

The committee has sent letters to Des Turner MP, Councillor Tehmtan Framroze and neighbourhood services manager Helen Furlong.

A spokeswoman for the city council said: "A best value review has taken place in which a number of options are outlined.

"These reviews are designed to ensure that relevant and good quality services are being provided for residents.

"This review is in the early stages and no decisions have been made. The service at Stonehurst Court is being provided as normal."

Cabinet councillors will be briefed on the future of the Stonehurst Court sheltered housing scheme on Wednesday.