Campaigners included staff and relatives of residents

Carmarthenshire Council plans to shut the Annedd, which is home to 31 people, and replace it with a �4m "super home".

It said the 40-year-old building at Llanybydder did not meet new care standards and should be replaced.

But campaigners, numbering around 100, who marched on County Hall in Carmarthen said the home should be upgraded rather than demolished.

The council has unveiled plans for a development in partnership with a housing association on the site.

It would include 24 assisted extra care flats, 14 for individuals with dementia, five respite care flats and a day centre with meals on wheels.

Residents would have to be moved to alternative accommodation while the building work took place and the 35 staff would be redeployed or offered early retirement.

Wednesday's protesters were made up of staff, relatives of residents in the home and members of the local community.

The care is so good for anyone who is old and infirm Ieuan Jones,

Fiona Hughes, a member of the campaign committee, said: "Despite the council's intention to replace Annedd with a super home it is strongly felt in the community that the extra care flats should not be a replacement to the existing facility.

"With waiting lists soaring for residential placements they should be an additional facility."

Ieuan Jones, whose wife lives in the home, said: "It's a shocking waste of money to build a new home.

"The priority should be the residents and staff. Some of them have worked there for 30 years.

"I know many people who would give anything just to get a place there because it is so suitable and the care is so good for anyone who is old and infirm."

The council said it would listen to the campaigners concerns and had asked them to suggest alternative sites for the new home.

An authority spokesman said it was not prepared to delay the project because it would lose out on the �4m it had to spend if it did not meet the deadline.