A HEREFORD nursing home has shut its doors for good after almost 30 years.

The Shires Nursing Home in Aylestone Hill has been part of mental health charity Herefordshire Mind since 1994.

The charity says it was a significant day when it handed back keys to the building, which has been a "sanctuary and a place of abode for many in distress".

It said people were tenderly cared for by the most amazing team people who demonstrated human compassion at its best.

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"We are so proud of all staff and residents who were part of The Shires over the years and it is with fondness and sadness that we say goodbye," a charity spokesperson said.

Despite the closure, Herefordshire Mind said it continues to go from strength to strength and it has a renewed focus on the impact it can make across the county.

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It said it was committed to partnership working and it currently offers a mix of short-term and longer-term services to meet different individuals needs during their mental health recovery journey.

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Current projects include Safe Haven crisis service, talking therapy counselling services, creative activity sessions, link worker one-to-one support in partnership with the NHS neighbourhood mental health team, peer support groups, transitional housing support, and more long-term community support services.

"As an organisation we want to strive to be the quality we want to see and offer joined up coordinated services that ensure we keep people at the heart of all we do," the spokesperson said.

"We want to ensure that our services can help people access the right mental help support for them and ensure that no one has to face a mental health problem alone."