A BUYER has come forward to end weeks of anxiety for relatives of elderly residents in a care home that was threatened with closure.

Frantic families began looking around for alternative accommodation after owner Avril Stein said she would shut the Chestnuts Care Home in Wanstead within eight weeks because she could no longer afford to run it.

Relatives feared that it would be sold to a property developer, but it has been bought by Westgate Healthcare, a Hertfordshire based company that already operates six care homes across the south east of England with around 400 residents.

Director Pushyany Patel said: “We are taking over as of today (May 9).

“Everyone living in the home will stay, and we can assure all the employees that their jobs are safe.

“We are a very well known organisation and I can assure people that this home will be run very well.”

Redbridge Council stopped referring people to the home in Cambridge Park after concerns about the standards of care were raised by the Care Quality Commission in September.

And with relatives looking to find homes elsewhere, just 31 of the 51 spaces are filled, but Mr Patel said he expected the vacancies to be filled in the near future.

“Once we have more people living in the home we may seek to employ extra staff.” he added.

Carol Walsh, 44, whose 84-year-old grandmother lives at the home, said: “I found out the home had been sold yesterday afternoon.

“I have looked at Westgate Healthcare’s website and will be meeting with the new owners later today.

“It is a massive relief to know the home is not being sold to a developer.

“My nan is in hospital at the moment and I think it will aid her recovery to be told that she is definitely going to be able to return home to Chestnuts.”

“We would like to thank the Guardian for giving us a voice.”