Half a dozen council-owned care homes are set to close despite opposition from relatives of residents, unionists and Lib Dem councillors.

Surrey County Council’s cabinet approved the closures as protesters, with placards proclaiming "save our homes", gathered outside County Hall in Kingston yesterday.

The councillors decided the care homes were unsustainable because the buildings were not fit for purpose and there were not enough residents.

Liberal Democrats on the council have voiced strong opposition in the wake of shock closures of failing private nursing homes, Merok Park in Banstead and Grantley Court in Sutton.

The cabinet were asked if now was the right time for in-house closures given the fact the council may need to offer emergency care at short notice in these kinds of cases.

From this week: "Why close council care homes when private firms are failing?" Surrey challenged over closures

Councillor Mel Few, cabinet member for adult social care, said they were satisfied the council could find alternative accommodation if other private homes closed.

He said: "Whilst the council acknowledges that this scenario is a possibility, it is not a frequent occurrence, and homes that close, or have been deemed inadequate, represent only a fraction of the number of independent care homes in Surrey."

Given the submission of petitions with more than 4,500 signatures in opposition, he said the decision was not "taken lightly" and there was extensive consultation.

GMB, the union for care workers, and Save Our Services, organised a demonstration and spoke out against the decision.

Frank Minal, regional organiser for the GMB, said it appeared as though the council had not listened to the concerns of the public or staff.

He said: "It makes common sense to maintain a council provision to keep costs down, not only for the council but for the taxpayer.

"Add that to the uncertainty of finding suitable provision for those elderly people in the six homes affected and the long term impact this will have on the 437 workers currently employed or may be made redundant."

The affected care homes are Brockhurst in Ottershaw, Cobgates in Farnham, Longfield in Cranleigh, Dormers in Caterham, Park Hall in Reigate and Pinehurst in Camberley.