A care home is set to close just two weeks before Christmas.

Pinebeach Nursing Home, at Friars Cliff in Christchurch will close at the start of December - though the owners have been reluctant to confirm the exact date.

Residents, family members and staff have been informed of the closure.

However the Echo understands that December 6 is the date that has been agreed.

There is speculation that the prime site, which is situated on the clifftop is to be sold for development.

One of the registered owners, Mark Gould, refused to comment in detail when contacted by the Daily Echo but he confirmed the home would close.

The Southcliffe Road site provides round-the-clock care as well as chiropody, physiotherapy and holistic therapies, bingo and sing-a-longs with local performers, according to its website.

Their latest CQC inspection, in December 2013, showed the home required no further improvement across the five sections of quality and suitability of management, staffing, caring for people and protecting them from harm, providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs, and treating people with respect and involving them in their care.

Although Pinebeach has room for more than 30 patients, it is believed there are fewer than that currently at the home.

It is believed the owners hope to have residents settled in other homes in time for Christmas.

A spokesman for Dorset County Council confirmed they would be working with the owners to re-house any of their registered residents, should they have anyone currently living at the home.

The news comes just weeks after plans were put forward to demolish the former Marlborough House nursing home in Poole, which is owned by Bournemouth businessman Abdul Jaffer, and replace it with a four-storey block of 12 flats.

Marlborough House, in Bournemouth Road, had been shut down after a damning CQC report rated it 'inadequate', and its residents were moved elsewhere.

Back in August, another care home owned by Mr Jaffer, Ormonde Nursing Home in Branksome, was also submitted for demolition and redevelopment.

Last week, the Daily Echo revealed plans to demolish the family-owned Canford Cliffs Rest Home in Bessborough Road and replace it with a block of 14 flats.

In all three cases the applicants have claimed the businesses are no longer commercially viable.