Devastated relatives have slammed a council after a loved-one was ordered to leave their home of 10 years. Stoke-on-Trent City Council had told residents to leave Foster Court, in Blurton, by the end of June.

But the residents – who have learning disabilities – have now been given a three-month stay of execution. It comes after Mencap pulled out of its contract to operate Foster Court due to a lack of funding.

Susan Mountford has lived in Foster Court for the past decade. She has needed 24-hour care ever since being struck down with meningitis.

Brother Kevin Mountford has labelled the situation a 'scandal'. He is preparing for his sister to move in with him.

The residents have been given a three-month stay of execution (Google).

The 67-year-old said: "I want things to stay the way they are. All the girls from Mencap that work there have been given notice so they're losing their jobs.

"It's a scandal. The people living there are the most needy in society and they are being neglected. They were like a little family over there and they are just going to be split up and go all over the city. It's terrible."

Charity Mencap has stressed its Stoke-on-Trent City Council funding does not cover the cost of operating Foster Court. It currently looks after six Stoke-on-Trent residents and two from the Staffordshire Moorlands.

A spokesperson for Stoke-on-Trent City Council advised: "Stoke-on-Trent City Council has made multiple attempts to support Mencap, ahead of their decision to serve notice on the Foster Court site, Blurton. Support included a financial review, which was not taken up by the service. Following Mencap serving notice to residents, teams from Stoke-on-Trent City Council have sourced alternative accommodation and support for residents and their families. We understand this is a very stressful time for those involved, and want to reassure those impacted, we are doing everything we can to support them during these turbulent times."

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