Skills and financial help are needed to support a bid to keep Sampson Court care home open for the community in the Deal area.

The county council has decided to shut the Mongeham Road complex as part of its budget cuts as it lacked the cash for an upgrade.

Members of the Friends of Sampson Court, set up last year to fight the closure, have joined forces with Deal MP Charlie Elphicke and county councillor Julie Rook.

Friends’ campaigner Dave Hubble said: "The business plan is being prepared, though we need all the help we can get.

"If anyone feels they have any skills or financial aid they can offer, please get in touch with us."

He said that since the closure announcement a forum group had been formed to look into the possibility of reopening the home, due to shut in December, under new management as a social enterprise .

Mr Hubble added: "This would be in the form of a community interest company.

"KCC has been encouraging and asked that we put in a business plan by May outlining our proposals."

To help the bid to take on Sampson Court from the county council email sampsoncourtaid@hotmail.co.uk

* For full story read the East Kent Mercury.