A RUNCORN care home is being shut down after failing to provide adequate care for vulnerable residents.

Harbour Close in Murdishaw is closing on Friday.

It follows an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission, the independent healthcare regulator.

The home has four bungalows for people with physical disabilities and the service is run by Scope.

The charity was accused of putting residents’ lives at risk at another Runcorn care home only three months ago.

The Hollies in Halton Brook was branded ‘inadequate’ and put in special measures following a scathing CQC inspection.

A detailed report of the deficiencies discovered at Harbour Close was being compiled as the World went to press on Tuesday.

James Watson-O’Neill, executive director of services at disability charity Scope, said: “We are deeply concerned by the issues raised by the CQC.

“We would like to apologise to all of our residents and their families that the care and support at the service has not met the high standards we demand.

“We have taken immediate action, bringing in an experienced senior management team and increasing the number of staff.

“Our priority at this time is to ensure that everyone who lives at Harbour Close is safe and well supported.

“We have also considered the long term future of Harbour Close and have made the difficult decision to close the service.

“We are individually supporting each person along with their family and friends to work with their local authority to move to a suitable new home in the coming weeks.

“We will look into the root causes of all the issues identified and decide what further action we need to take.

“We know this will be an anxious time for everyone connected to the service and we will offer all our support during this time.”