THREE days – that's all the warning residents of an Ipswich care home were given before it closed its doors today.Just 10 days before Christmas and with close friends and carers around them, the residents of Northwick House are now being forced apart.

THREE days – that's all the warning residents of an Ipswich care home were given before it closed its doors today.

Just 10 days before Christmas and with close friends and carers around them, the residents of Northwick House are now being forced apart.

The shock news comes after the home in Redan Street went into liquidation today, forcing the eight remaining residents to move into alternative accommodation.

Three residents found new homes over the weekend, shortly after the news was announced.

Residents had initially been told that the home would be closing in February but owner's Swanbrook Enterprises Limited admitted they were in trouble last week and called in the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) for help.

The NCSC today issued the following statement: "The NCSC can confirm that Northwick House owned by Swanbrook Enterprises Limited of Colchester will formally close today, December 15, 2003.

"The home has gone into liquidation and is now in the hands of the receivers.

"All the remaining residents have been found alternative homes and will be moving today."

The NCSC worked with social services to find accommodation for the remaining residents who are expected to leave by 3pm this afternoon.

Norwyn Cole, area manager for the NCSC said: "This is a very sad day, it is sad when any home closes, particularly under these circumstances.

"We have found all of the remaining residents a good service for them to go to in Ipswich and the surrounding area and have tried to keep groups of friends together.

"This has happened very quickly, in less than a week and it is very uncommon – since April there has actually been an increase in beds in Suffolk.

"This doesn't happen very often and it's the first time in a long time that a home has gone into liquidation.

"The company has a cash flow problem and has already closed one home which is not in the Ipswich area."

Swanbrook Enterprise took over ownership of the home in March and Mr Cole said that there had been no financial problems at the home prior to this.

Managers at the home declined to comment on today's news.