Elderly residents face an uncertain future after a school announced it wanted to take over the premises of a residential home.

Although the owners of The Drive Lodge in Hove denied they were considering closure, it is understood discussions have been held about the

possibility of leasing the building.

The Drive Prep School has submitted an application to Brighton and Hove Council for change of use at the residential home and, if successful, is keen to take over the building and convert it into school premises.

It would mean new accommodation having to be found for the 20 elderly residents currently living at the home and would add to the increasing number of home

closures in the area.

The school, which has been open for three years, is particularly keen to find larger premises in The Drive so it will not be forced to change its name. The school has 50 pupils aged between three and 13 and a further 36 on its waiting list.

Head teacher Sue Parkinson said: "We need to expand as we have a lot of children who want to come here and we are turning people away all the time. We are not planning to run a big school, it would have no more than 80 pupils. We found out the owner might want to lease the building and we said if he ever did to bear us in mind. It's our only chance in the world to expand in The Drive."

She said if the application was approved the earliest the school could move in would be July. Mr Dhillon, owner of The Drive Lodge, denied he was looking to lease the building at the moment.

He said: "We are thinking of it - it's in the long run. We are waiting to see if the school is able to change it. We discussed it with the school some time ago and that's all I'm going to say."

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