Tyne Tees care home

A new £7million luxury care home in Ponteland is expected to create upto a hundred jobs for the North East.

The Royal Hampton home has been built on a former cattle auction site in Northumberland.

The home is set to open in the autumn.

The daughter of an elderly resident affected by the possible closure of care homes in County Durham is appealing for councillors to leave things as they are.

Pauline Robinson says she'd fear for her ninety three year old mother's health if she was forced to move.

The council is starting a three month consultation over proposals for the future of its five remaining care homes in a bid to save money. Watch Claire Montgomery's report.

Five care homes are under review in County Durham, as the council looks at making cuts totalling £222m.

They are: Newtown House in Stanhope, Cheveley House, in Belmont; Feryemount, in Ferryhill; Grampian House, in Peterlee; and Mendip House, in Chester-le-Street.

The budget cuts are £20m more than Durham County Council originally expected.

Families of elderly residents living in County Durham care homes say they're concerned about their future, because of council budget cuts.

The county council's remaining five homes are under review in light of bigger-than-expected budget cuts.

A care home accountant from County Durham has admitted defrauding the estates of dead residents to the amount of £180,000.

36-year-old Steven Mason abused his position as group internal auditor at Four Seasons Health Care to carry out the fraud between September 2010 and September 2011.

Mason, of Seaview, Easington, appeared at Teesside Crown Court to admit one count of fraud.

He withdrew money from the bank accounts of dead residents who lived across the UK.

The case was adjourned to allow a pre-sentence report to be prepared and Christopher Knox, defending, said he would ask a psychiatrist's advice "to deal with the question of addiction".

Mason was granted unconditional bail and will be sentenced on September 5.

A nurse accused of physically and verbally abusing dementia patients at a North Yorkshire care home is waiting to hear if she'll be struck off.

Christina Cooper denies the allegations and returned to London today for what's expected to be the final part of her hearing for alleged misconduct.

The panel at the Nursing and Midwifery Council has now finished listening to submissions in the case.