STAFF and residents from a Melksham care home will take their battle against its closure straight to County Hall next week.

At 9.30am next Friday, as part of an ongoing campaign highlighting the plight of Waverley House, about 20 protesters will gather outside Wiltshire County Council headquarters in Trowbridge.

Carrying placards and wearing t-shirts bearing slogans, they will lobby officers before a meeting about the care home.

Sally Startin, senior care officer at Waverley House, said residents were worried and upset about its closure. She is unhappy that the decision was made about its future before any consultation took place.

Staff claim they first heard about the proposal when a weeping resident came back with the news, but Wiltshire County Council insists anyone affected was told about the possible closure over a year ago.

Mrs Startin, 51, said: "We want residents to have a choice to stay in Melk-sham. We want to keep the care home open and we all want to keep our jobs. We are all very worried about the future."

For the last two months, protesters have organised a series of events to raise awareness about the home's future.

An 870-strong petition has already been handed in to the county council and friends and family of loved ones living at Waverley House have expressed their concerns.

Peter Colegate, 57, who has helped organise the campaign, said a protest was the next most effective way of getting people to stand up and listen.

"It will be the first time that staff have been involved in a protest," he added. "They know how badly the home's closure will affect the residents.

"We're not going to let the issue drop because we don't want it to be forgotten about. We have done so much in such a short time because we still feel there is a chance it could stay open."

Waverley House is expected to close by next April under proposals from the county council to replace outdated homes for people with learning difficulties with more modern facilities.

Ray Jones, director of adult and community services for the county council, said: "Consultation has been very extensive and goes back over a year. Staff knew it was in the pipeline and were given an opportunity to contribute towards the discussion.

"There has been individual consultation with all residents, relatives have been informed and an advocacy service was put in place."