A HOME for elderly disabled people in Malvern may be forced to close.

Tanglewood, on Albert Road South, has seven residents and has been operating for some time with a number of vacancies because funding from Worcestershire County Council does not cover costs.

Sense, a national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind, took over the home in 1998 and spent £ million on refurbishment.

It announced this week that drastic action would have to be taken to save money, which could mean Tanglewood's closure.

The home provides care and accommodation for up to 12 residents with sensory impairments, including the blind, deaf and deafblind. Currently there are only seven residents.

Sense said if the home does close, it would work with Social Services, residents and their families to ensure that everyone is found appropriate new accommodation.

Nevertheless, the 20 staff at the home are worried. Many have been there for decades.

Care manager Gill Burns, who has worked at Tanglewood for 20 years, said there was nowhere else in Worces-tershire that offered the same level of specialist care to residents.

"The staff are very concerned for the residents because they have been with them for so many years," she said. "These people have grown old with us. It just doesn't bear thinking about."

No final decision will be taken for a week or two, but Sense director Peter Cheer said they were facing an extremely painful decision.

"To continue would have a serious impact on our other services for deafblind people in the Midlands," he said. "If we are forced to close Tanglewood we will do everything we can to support the staff and residents affected."

Coun Liz Eyre, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for social services, said: "While our banding rates may be a contributory factor, the size of the home, which Sense has said is too small to be financially viable, must be a significant contributory factor.

"The important step is for our staff to review and assess the residents so we can find them good alternative placements to minimise their disruption."