FAMILIES of people living in a doomed care home claim they have been misled by Nottingham City Council.

The Riverside Care Home, in Bulwell, was earmarked for closure more than three years ago because of the condition of the building.

Since then, the city council has reassured relatives an alternative home would be found and planned to spend £800,000 refurbishing another home.

But now the closure has been finalised and there is no money for a replacement home.

Eric Norton, 80, was relying on Riverside and its successor to care for his daughter, Carole, 51.

"I thought I had sorted it for her," he said. "They have been leading us up the garden path, saying they will move us into other premises or have premises built, and now it has come to the crunch, they are not.

"They know these people cannot complain and their parents are ageing. They are sweeping them under the carpet."

Elaine Goodacre, whose older brother Alan Jameson has Down's Syndrome and is at the home, said: "It is diabolical. They have known about this for four years."

One staff member at Riverside, who did not want to be named, said: "It really is disgusting. They knew years ago there was a problem with the building – and they have done nothing."

In a statement, the city council said: "It would not be cost-effective to rebuild or refurbish the premises up to the standards for 21st century adult care."

The council plans to accommodate clients at Oakdene, its only other home for people with learning disabilities, in private sector accommodation or with adult "foster carers".

It had previously agreed, in September 2006, they would be moved to a refurbished home in St Ann's.