Old soldiers who share rooms in a care home have spoken of their anger over plans to force them into single accommodation.

Gifford House is planning a £5 million complex at its headquarters in Worthing to meet controversial government rules for care homes in which all the shared rooms must be turned into singles.

But many of the 80 veterans do not want single en-suite rooms, saying it would lead to the breakdown of friendships.

Adam Hope, 66, has lived in Gifford House, the Queen Alexandra Home for Disabled Ex-servicemen in Boundary Road, for five years.

He has seen many roommates come and go and said: "We're able to interact together quite easily at the moment.

"I go for respite care at another institution where they have single rooms and they feel very isolated.

"When changes are made here I will go on existing but it won't improve my life.

"It will make life more difficult for everybody.

"We enjoy the friendships we make here. There wouldn't be a hope of interacting if we all go into separate rooms.

"A long time ago I learnt that if a thing works it's pointless to break it up and destroy it and try something new."

Mike Parker, 62, said: "I'm not happy about the plans. I like the friendships that we make at the moment.

"You need someone else in the room with you for company."

A planning application has been submitted to Worthing Borough Council.

The home wrote to the Government seeking an exemption but was refused.

John Paxman, chief executive of Gifford House, said: "It all works perfectly now. It's criminal to have to bash it all up. Quite a few of the residents are very unhappy because they like sharing rooms but we have to go with regulations."

A new two-storey wing will replace the occupational therapy complex and staff bungalow. It will house an upgraded complex, physiotherapy department and 22 single rooms.

Wards in the main building will be converted into single bedrooms and a covered walkway will connect it to the new wing.

About £5 million needs to be generated through fund-raising to pay for the changes, which are expected to be complete by the end of 2006.