The operator of a Buckfastleigh nursing home where a wheelchair-bound resident with failing eyesight died after falling down stairs has been fined £110,000.

Patrick Foale, 75, lived at Redmount Nursing Home, Old Totnes Road, and died in November 2010.

A fire door at the top of the stairs had been left open and Mr Foale died in Torbay Hospital a day after suffering facial and head injuries.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought the prosecution against Your Health Ltd, the Derbyshire-based owner of the home, after finding that the company had failed to provide a safe environment.

A spokesman said: 'YHL and the dedicated staff at Redmount wish it to be known that they are devastated over this lapse which led to this tragedy and apologise unreservedly to Patrick's family and friends.'