West Sussex County Council admitted "starving" of funds a care home which is facing closure.

Lack of investment at St Giles, in Lancing, may mean a tight-knit group of disabled people being split up.

At a meeting last night, officials from West Sussex Social and Caring Services said it was "partly" the county council's fault St Giles had fallen below current health and fire standards.

The home, which caters for adults with a range of disabilities, faces closure because of the costly improvements needed at the Elm Grove site.

About 70 St Giles staff, residents and relatives were at Lancing Manor Leisure Centre to voice their fears about losing the place many call home.

One of the 21 residents said her social world was based around it.

After several asked why the home had been allowed to slip so far beneath acceptable standards, Richard Perry, social services head of resources, said: "It is partly the fault of the county council for the lack of investment.

"It's ultimately about difficulties with funding over a number a years."

Threats of closure follow a county council strategy aimed at providing up-to-date services for adults with physical disabilities and reducing the reliance on residential care.

Mr Perry explained the money needed to repair St Giles might be better spent on developing a "a greater range of services than the county is currently able to provide".

He said: "The days when the county council inspected care homes has long since gone.

"It is now undertaken by the National Care Standards Commission which is looking to ensure standards in all care homes are raised, such as qualifications of staff and the level of care provided.

"It's also about the buildings themselves and I'm sorry to say St Giles does not come close to meeting the standards."

Dozens of residents and relatives fear the council had already made its decision to close, despite a public consultation exercise to run until October 31.

Anne Anderson, who has lived at St Giles for six years after suffering a stroke when she was 25, said: "I would be devastated if it shut. I love living there."

The range of disabilities at St Giles means residents are likely to be sent to different places.

Maggie Hoppe, a former West Sussex social services worker, said: "There is an awful lot of compassion missing in this.

"I like to think consideration should be given to making changes to St Giles that will let people live there comfortably."

Linda Morris, who suffers from spina bifida and has been a resident for almost 30 years, said after the meeting: "Where are we going to go? I want to go into a group with my friends, not on my own.

"They say the rooms are too small and it does not meet fire regulations - they have not done anything to improve St Giles, they have just let it go."

A decision is to be made in November.

Views should be expressed to service development manager Jane Goldingham on 01273 268812.