JUST four residents remained last night at a Torquay care home being cleared by Torbay care Trust officials.

Eight of 17 elderly residents with dementia at Arlington House in Kents Road were taken away by the trust workers on Thursday. More followed yesterday.

The action came four weeks after a complaint was made by a district nurse and concerns were raised about staff not adopting training techniques.

But on the same day the patients left, the home received an Investor in People award in recognition of a decade of top training for staff.

A further four confused residents were removed on Friday, leaving staff helpless to do anything.

Sue Clarke, nee Mann, who owns the home, said: "It's been terribly traumatic. The Investors in People award recognises us as a good home, but the care trust clearly doesn't agree. I know I'll get all the GPs saying it's a good home here.

"We're very upset about what's happening. The residents feel really intimidated. I believe the action the care trust has taken is far worse than any problems they say they've found.

"We've not had any sufficient answers to questions we've asked the care trust. It's very frustrating. We've appointed an independent mediator to assess us, and we thought the care trust would wait for the outcome of that before taking action.

"The staff have been brilliant in such difficult circumstances. They say they'll stay and support me without being paid."

Torbay Care Trust said the decision had not been taken lightly.

A spokesman added: "The care trust will continue to work with the owners and staff of Arlington House, the remaining residents and their families to ensure their continued health and wellbeing of these clients.

"This will include care trust staff remaining in the home throughout the weekend."