Ken Mack has spent years as a campaigner

Ken Mack from Wrexham has written to all 25 leaders in the union to urge them to pass legislation to protect people living in care homes.

He is concerned that homes can close down suddenly, leaving vulnerable people homeless.

His mother-in-law had to move at the age of 89 after a home closed down.

Mr Mack said she had already suffered one upheaval after becoming the victim of burglars in her home and being too afraid to stay there alone.

Elderly people need continuity of care in their twilight years Ken Mack

He explains in his letter: "My wife and I looked after her until her health deteriorated and we had no option but to place her in a nursing home.

"She was only living in the nursing home for two months when she was informed by the owners of their intention to close the home down, apparently due to the lack of government funding support.

"She was at 89 years old effectively evicted for a second time."

In his letter, Mr Mack tells the EU leaders hundreds of UK care homes have closed, forcing thousands of vulnerable and elderly people out without legal redress.

The letter is being sent to all heads of EU states

He has already gathered a 26,000-strong petition to support his cause, which he presented to Downing Street in February, supported by Wrexham MP Ian Lucas, Bootle MP Jo Benton and Labour peer Lord Morris of Manchester.

'Sword of Damocles'

Mr Mack said: "I want legislation that would protect elderly people in care homes from eviction and bad practice.

"Elderly people need continuity of care in their twilight years.

"They are living with the sword of Damocles hanging over them particularly in private care homes in terms of their tenure."

Mr Mack, 63, has already spent years campaigning for better opportunities for disabled people.

His twin sons, now aged 32, were brain-damaged at birth and have learning difficulties.

A spokeswoman for the assembly said the assembly government was committed to "preserving and strengthening" independent care home sector capacity as a fundamental part of its approach to improving community services.

[The assembly government] is also looking specifically at the issue of giving a greater degree of protection for residents health and safety interests in the event of home closures name here

"It is always a matter of regret when care homes providing a good quality of care close.

"Whilst the statutory responsibility for the commissioning and provision of care rests with local authorities, the assembly does have a strategic role in helping to ensure that a range of services are in place to support vulnerable people.

"It has taken a number of measures to help give confidence and stability to residential care providers in the form of specific grants to local government, and improvements in commissioning practice.

"It is also looking specifically at the issue of giving a greater degree of protection for residents health and safety interests in the event of home closures and this includes, amongst other things, the possibility of providing some measure of security of tenure and guidance on better planning for care home closures.