A friend of Elsie Ife say the looming closure of the home has made her depressed and she has stopped eating.

Mrs Ife will have to leave the Hillfield Care Home in Reydon near Southwold, in November.

The home has been sold to be redeveloped for housing.

Jean Peel, who regularly visits Mrs Ife, said it appeared she had stopped eating in protest at the closure.

Our staff are trained to help older people cope with big changes such as a move to a new home Anthony Douglas, of Suffolk County Council

Staff at the residential home, run by Suffolk County Council, said they were aware of the issue, as were local doctors.

The county's director of social care services, Anthony Douglas, said she was eating regularly.

"Staff looking after Elsie are taking great care to respond to her needs and have been monitoring her progress following a recent stay in hospital.

"Elsie is upset about her move to a new home but we are working hard with Elsie's family and friends to ensure that her move is handled with the utmost sensitivity.

Big changes

"Our staff are trained to help older people cope with big changes such as a move to a new home."

Mrs Ife, who has lived at the home for more than a decade, has said she does not want to move to a new home.

The home has 10 permanent residents, eight of whom are transferring to Pitchers View, a purpose-built very sheltered housing scheme, on 8 November.