CONTROVERSIAL plans to close a Hampshire old people's home have sparked a petition signed by 600 people.

Proposals to shut Linden House, Lymington, have been unveiled by the county council, which says rooms at the 33-year-old building are too small to meet modern standards.

A petition opposing the closure has been signed by hundreds of people since its launch on May 19.

The protest organiser, Lymington antiques dealer Evelyn Rogers, said: "Linden House is a well-run home with a dedicated staff who provide the pensioners with a happy environment.

"You won't hear any of them saying a bad thing about it.

"The Lymington area is attracting more and more elderly people. In those circumstances, closing a care home for the elderly is extremely short-sighted."

Relatives of people living at Linden House are also calling for the 26-bed unit to be kept open.

Diane Maidment, of Milford on Sea, said: "It's such a lovely home - the staff work themselves to death to make everyone happy."

The residents, who are understood to include at least one centenarian, are facing an uncertain future.

A Lymington woman, whose mother lives at the home, said: "The pensioners will probably be split up and moved to lots of different places.

"Most of them are quite upset because they don't know what's going to happen to them."

Patricia Banks, the county council's executive member for adult services, said: "Residents and their relatives will have an opportunity to meet with a care manager to discuss alternative care arrangements."

The county council is also planning to close the Newman Bassett care home in Basingstoke.

A county council spokesman said: "The homes no longer meet modern standards and will not be fit to provide appropriate care in the future."