A grieving son was told in a voicemail while he was abroad arranging his dad's funeral that his elderly mum's care home was closing.

But it was not.

Paul Alexander was in Spain when he picked up the message that the residence where mum Sonia was living was shutting and she was being found alternative accommodation.

His father Graham had passed away three days previously and the dad-of-two was attending to his affairs when he received the shock news from a council employee that Kentwood House in Darenth was being closed down.

Confusion reigned when he called the care home manager Neil Sandhu, who told him this was not the case and he had spent the day reassuring staff who had also been advised by a council official over the phone that the site was being closed.

A spokesman for Lewisham Council in south east London, initially told KentOnline: "Last week we were made aware that Kentwood House is set to close. Since then we have been working with Lewisham residents placed in Kentwood House to make alternative arrangements for them, liaising with their families where necessary."

A subsequent email backtracked, stating: "We have been made aware of significant concerns in relation to Kentwood House which could put it at risk of closure."

Businessman Mr Alexander, 55, from Chalk, who has just returned from Alicante after his father Graham's funeral on Tuesday, said the situation had left him "shocked" and "stressed"

He said: "I feel very let down, especially because of the circumstances I was in with my dad passing. It's been horrendous getting all the paperwork done and with this on top."

He added that his mother, who used to live in Lewisham, was happy at the home and he felt comfortable with the staff and her being there.

He said: "She is a little forgetful, but not high maintenance. Hopefully she doesn't know what's been going on. And hopefully, this is now done and dusted."

The care home watchdog the CQC gave the home a "requires improvement" rating after its latest inspection in October last year. It found risk assessments had not consistently identified and managed risks to keep people safe.

People did not always receive care and support that was person centred and there was a lack of activities. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and inspectors were told staff were kind and friendly.

A spokesman said they had been told by Kent County Council that the home was "at risk " and they were looking at options for residents.

A spokesman for the council said: "KCC is working closely with residents and families, CQC, the Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS), Kentwood House and other local authorities following concerns raised by KFRS about the capacity for safe evacuation from the property.

"Our residents' safety and wellbeing is the council’s utmost priority and so, until suitable remedies for issues identified at Kentwood House have been implemented, the council will do whatever is necessary to keep people safe."

There are currently 15 residents with a full capacity for 32. It provides care for over 65s with complex nursing needs including suffering from dementia.

Mr Sandhu, who has run the home for years, said he had taken notes of improvements that need to be made and complied with fire safety regulation made by KFRS recently.