Two East Sussex care homes for the elderly have been recommended for closure.

The move would mean rehousing more than 60 residents. A similar number of workers would lose their jobs.

After a six-month review, East Sussex County Council officers decided it was not worth investing millions of pounds to upgrade Parker House, in Redoubt Road, Eastbourne, and Haldane House, in Cooden Drive, Bexhill.

The recommendation will go before the council's ruling Cabinet on Thursday.

If approved, the homes' 61 residents would be rehoused in private care homes.

A council spokeswoman said they would be moved in groups of friends to minimise disruption.

The spokeswoman said: "The other 12 homes in the county will be reviewed during the next two years with the final reports going back to the council in July next year."

New Government national minimum standards for care homes come into force in April.

They mean rooms must have en suite facilities, stairlifts must be replaced by shaft lifts and rooms must meet size regulations.

To bring the two homes up to scratch would cost the council more than £3 million.

Tony Watson, South-East branch secretary for public services union Unison, said: "All this means is older people will not be able to be cared for in the communities they live and that is an insult to their dignity."