A councillor has hit out at the closure of a Carlisle care home as a new £6m facility remains on schedule to open next year.

Elizabeth Welsh in Harraby shut 10 days before Christmas and the lower floor of the complex has been boarded up.

Its 10 residents have all been moved to either Petteril Bank House or Langrigg House, the city's other Cumbria Care Homes.

They continue to have places available too. Langrigg House in Morton can cater for up to 40 people and currently has 33 residents. Meanwhile Petteril Bank has 27 residents, with 10 places free.

A total of 48 members of staff who worked at the Pennine Way care home have transferred to roles at the other homes.

Independent Botcherby councillor Jack Paton, who represents part of the Harraby area, is unhappy the home has closed when he argues beds are needed.

He said: "I'm incensed about the plans. They've closed down Elizabeth Welsh and moved people just before Christmas. They've shut it down before they've opened the new one and also when we have a hospital that has problems with bed blocking."

A statement from Cumbria County Council said: "There were only 10 residents occupying a 40 bed home. Staff, residents and their families were all involved in deciding where they wished to relocate to, and all moved to other Cumbria Care Homes in Carlisle.

"They will move into the new state of that art care home currently being built in Carlisle which will open in 2019."

Elizabeth Welsh was operational for more than 51 years but reforms to residential care in the city are afoot.

A new £6m residential care home is being created on the site of the former Morton Park Primary School at Burnrigg.

Eric Wright Construction is the developer making Cumbria County Council's plans a reality.

It will have 60 beds and replaces Elizabeth Welsh, Petteril House and Langrigg House.

A spokesperson for the county council said: "Elizabeth Welsh has served its community well for over 51 Years providing a good standard of care, by committed and loyal staff but people’s expectations of residential care and what can be offered has changed.

"Many people now prefer their own front door and want a different type of care such as Extra Care Housing and Supported Living.

"This, together with the fact that the organisation responsible for regulating residential care, the Care Quality Commission, has also changed and renewed its inspection standards over recent years means that we need to change the way we provide care, including residential care ensuring that older people will have access to modern, state of the art facilities that best meet their needs."

The new care home will provide care for older adults, especially those who need to be supported with dementia and complex care needs.

Building work began last August.

New site drainage, car parking and site office facilities have been installed.

Local contractor Pearson Brickwork was helping to lay the concrete foundations.

Part of Burnrigg, between the site entrance and Stonegarth, is also having to close for three weeks for sewer works to be carried out.

Developers say the new building will start to take shape during March, with some of the walls and roof works due to be completed by the end of June.