Bradford Council will go back to consult families over care for their relatives after four companies expressed interest in buying an old people's home.

Meadowcroft, in Bowling, was one of four homes threatened with closure last year as Bradford Council said it wanted to plough money into services to help elderly people continue to live in their own homes.

But angry families said there was no real alternative provision for residents who suffered from dementia.

Three months ago the Council agreed to look at the possibility of transferring Meadowcroft to an independent operator and to provide a new centre on the site of Greenacres in Clayton. Woodward Court, in Thornton, and Broadstones, in Holme Wood, both escaped the axe.

Director of social services Alison O'Sullivan will recommend to next week's executive committee at City Hall that the Meadowcroft transfer is feasible. She will tell members four independent operators have expressed a definite interest in buying the home and guaranteeing the same use for the foreseeable future.

Her report to members says: "Transfer to the independent sector with specific conditions would ensure its continued use as a residential care facility and this would enable the Council to redirect significant savings into community-based care services."

Today Councillor Kris Hopkins, executive member for the community, said there would be widespread consultation with residents, relatives and staff.

"Any transfer to an independent provider would be on the basis that Meadowcroft continues to be a home for those who live there, The Council would ensure that it continues to provide excellent quality services to residents."

But Eileen Armstrong, whose mother Ellen Durkin is in Greenacres, said she still had grave concerns over the proposals. "We would want a cast iron assurance because we fear that if they found they could not operate it profitably they might sell it to another provider who in turn might sell it on."