CIVIC leaders in Ashburton are demanding the town's redundant Kenwyn home for the elderly should remain open amid fears care provision at the site could disappear completely.

mayor Cllr John Nutley and his predecessor Cllr Elaine Baker are anxious that such a service remains in the town.

Their anxieties were expressed on Tuesday when Devon County Council announced that the last remaining resident of the Western Road premises had died and that existing residential service provision at the site would cease.

Efforts are being made to redeploy the 20 staff working at the home which specialised in care for frail, elderly people. The last resident died two weeks ago, with the funeral held last week.