NEW accommodation is being sought "as quickly and safely as possible" for all residents affected by the closure of a Bradford care home, Council bosses have said. 

Hansdale, the company which owns Bierley Court Care Home, said it had taken the "extremely difficult" decision to shut the setting due to "exorbitant" energy prices and high interest rates. 

It also criticised "years of Government underfunding in the sector" - but the Government disputed this. 

An exact date for the home's closure has not yet been revealed - but it has been confirmed the process to close the setting was underway. 

The home, in Bierley Lane, Bierley, cares for up to 40 older people - including some who are living with dementia.

Today, a Bradford Council spokesperson told the Telegraph & Argus: "We have been made aware of the decision by Handsale that they have ceased operating services at Bierley Court Care Home in Bradford.

"Bradford Council's department of adult social care and local NHS partners will be working closely with all residents at Bierley Court to support them in finding alternative care home accommodation as quickly and safely as possible with minimum disruption.

"We recognise that this is a very distressing and worrying time for the residents, their families and carers, however the welfare and safety of residents at the care home remains our top priority."

A spokesperson from Hansdale previously said: "Due to the current economic climate, including the impact of exorbitant energy prices and high interest rates, we have had to take the extremely difficult decision to begin the closure of Bierley Court Care Home.

"This decision was not taken lightly, however the adult social care industry has unfortunately felt these economic changes more acutely after years and years of Government underfunding in the sector.

"We are working closely with our partners at Bradford Council and the Care Quality Commission to ensure the safe transfer of the residents to other care settings in the local area."

In response, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "The Government has now made available up to £8.1billion over this year and next to support adult social care and discharge.

"We are additionally investing up to £700million on a major transformation of the adult social care system, which includes improving care workers' skills and supporting career progression, investing in technology and digitisation, and adapting people's homes to allow them to live independently."