A Melbourn care home has closed its doors after the rehoming of all its residents was completed last week.

People living at Southwell Court and their families were given the bombshell news of the closure by members of the Metropolitan group – the London-based housing association which owns and manages the home – in November.

The 35-room facility, which was one of two care homes in the village, was home to 20 people, including Lee Anne West’s 94-year-old father-in-law Don, who had lived there for more than 21 years.

Cambridgeshire County Council is now working with Metropolitan to determine the future of Southwell Court.

Councillor Susan van de Ven, who represents Melbourn on the county authority, said: “Southwell Court residents have now all moved to other care homes, and it is very sad to think that a close knit community of elderly and frail people has been dispersed in the way it has.

“Metropolitan Housing Association now has to decide what to do next.

“Looking forward, fellow councillors and I are supporting the county council which is very interested in acquiring the site for a continuing care home there.

“It has been good to have the county council regularly liaising with us, and with Metropolitan, to explore this possibility.

“The council has done a superb job supporting residents in their transition to finding new homes and while it is still early days, it would be tremendous if the site could indeed be retained for the purpose of care for the elderly.”

Metropolitan and Cambridgeshire County Council released a joint statement saying: “Following the decision by Metropolitan to close Southwell Court, the county council and Metropolitan have worked closely to ensure the smooth transfer of residents to alternative accommodation.

“This process has worked very well, and in many cases enabled groups of friends to move together.

“In terms of the future of Southwell Court, Metropolitan is continuing to explore options, which include discussions with the county council regarding the possibility of an older people’s accommodation service being retained on this site.”