Two care homes, which have both received inadequate rating from CQC before, are to be closed down.

The Westgate homes, Ashbury Court and Norfolk House in Sea Road, are run by Orchard Care Homes and are to shut as they are not 'financially viable'.

In its latest inspection in July, Ashbury Court was rated inadequate by the CQC.

The home was given the worst possible rating on two out of five categories - safety and how well-led the home was.

It was put into special measures following an inspection between Wednesday, November 30 and Thursday, December 1 last year, which found the site to be inadequate.

The latest unannounced inspection, carried out on Tuesday, July 4 and Thursday, July 6, found that the service "continued to be unsafe" and that "people were at risk of harm and abuse".

In some cases, people were not given the medicine they needed and staff did not always treat them with care and respect.

At any one time, the care home can accommodate 37 older people, with 22 living at the home at the time of inspection in July.

Norfolk House, which sits next to Ashbury House, too had been given a inadequate rating in an inspection last year, but was handed a requires improvement rating on an inspection in June.

But the company say the closure of both homes isn't down to the poor CQC ratings, but down to financial issues.

A spokesman for Orchard Care Homes said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly.

"The homes require significant and long-term investment to bring them up to the standards we demand as a company, which is not financially viable.

"We have explored all available options, including a sale, but have concluded that closure is the only feasible option.

"We appreciate this is a difficult time and we are already working closely with residents, their families and the local authority to ensure the transition to new homes is as smooth as possible.

"We are consulting with the staff and will support them in finding new employment.”

A 28 day notice period has been given but all the residents must be found homes before the homes will be closed.