The move could have implications for the future of other homes in the county.

The judicial review, which began on Monday, came about after the daughter of a resident at the Moreton Centre in St Leonards objected to a plan to move her 86-year-old mother.

"Any change of circumstance for her could affect her health," said Norma Dudley, who is campaigning to keep her mother Clara in the centre.

"We believe the review of the care centre was carried out unfairly and meant those who would be most dramatically affected - the residents - had little chance of making their views known."

Earmarked for development

A review of all care homes in East Sussex began in 2001, prompted by the government's call to local authorities to ensure that they can demonstrate that tax payers are getting value for money.

Inspectors also said the county council was too reliant on residential care.

What we'd like to see is another centre to work alongside, not instead of the Moreton Centre Tony Watson, Unison

At the same time, a project worth �1m, drawn up jointly with health workers, earmarked Moreton as a site for development as an intermediate care centre.

It would be used as a way of accommodating patients from hospital who have undergone treatment but are not yet well enough to go home, so called "bed-blockers".

Union opposed to closure

The seven existing residents at Moreton would be rehoused but it is this move that has caused campaigners to object.

The public service union Unison say they are also opposed to the closure, which could lead to redundancies among the staff who work there.

Tony Watson of the union said: "There's no need to close it - what we'd like to see is another centre to work alongside, not instead of the Moreton Centre."

The judicial review will be asked to decide if the consultation exercise was carried out fairly but already it has had an effect on the review of four other homes which have been suspended until the verdict is returned.

Two days have been set aside for the hearing at the High Court although it could be some time before a decision is made known.