Relatives relatives of elderly and vulnerable residents of a care home which is to shut along with another have enlisted the help of their MP to raise their concerns.

People who have family members at Abbeyfield care homes St Martin’s in Larkfield and Greensted in Wateringbury heard last week that they are both to close and all residents will need to find new homes.

The charity plans to redevelop the complexes as “extra care schemes” within a year.

A number of families of those living at St Martin’s in Martin Square, Larkfield, have got in touch with Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch, who said she shared their concerns.

There are 41 elderly people living there, while there are 38 at the Wateringbury centre.

One woman, from East Malling, who has a relative in the home but did not want to be named, said: “There just isn’t the accommodation available for all these people. And they are going to be booted out by next March. It is very worrying that we are going to have around 60 frail and vulnerable people looking for places in the area.”

Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch (Con) said: “I was shocked to read about the closures in the KM.

“A few families have come to me and I will make sure I can help ensure the best outcome for the people involved.

“I do share people’s concerns. There is a real shortage of suitable accommodation for older people and there is a world of difference from somebody who is an active 60-year-old and an 80-year-old.”

She said she would be looking into the issue for her constituents.

The charity is yet to receive planning permission for the proposals, but has said it wants to provide an extra care scheme, which allow older people to live in their own homes but with services on hand if they need them. The charity said that the move was in responses to challenges in the care sector, and that the homes were both too old to be converted or modernised.

A spokesman for Abbeyfield Kent said it would be holding meetings with relatives.