Shaw Healthcare has met with relatives of residents in Leadon Bank to outline its plans for the future of the old people's home.

The company will take over the running of the home from Herefordshire Council next month.

Spokesman Stephen Crisp said around 30 relatives, residents and staff attended Tuesday's meeting.

They heard that Shaw plan to completely demolish the present building piecemeal and to build 50 care flats. Herefordshire Council would be able to place people in 35 of the flats and the remainder will be private. The 35 will be provided first and could be built by April 2006.

Mr Crisp said the council would have a contractual right to hire private flats, if demand required it.

He said the mood at the meeting had initially been apprehensive: "But quickly, people saw that the residents will be cared for in the long term, and probably for much longer, in improved facilities."

A new rehabilitation unit will have ten beds, and there will also be 20 places in a new day care facility.

Shaw has already announ-ced proposals for a health spa pool and new restaurant for communal meals.

Shaw will take over the running of five homes in total, including Froome Bank in Bromyard, and has set aside £8 million to fund refurbishment schemes.

Spencer Lane, whose mother-in-law is a resident at Leadon Bank, attended the meeting and praised Shaw's "exciting plans".

He said: "They are very impressive and this could be a way forward. The only fear I have is, will the level of provision for Ledbury people be sufficient? Will the facility be an establishment in which people can end their days?"

Ledbury mayor Keith Francis has called for a public meeting to brief the wider Ledbury community.