A solicitor has taken Bradford Council to the High Court in a bid to reunite his elderly mum with her care home friends for Christmas.

Jaroslaw Stachiw said Bradford Council moved his 81-year-old mum from Meadowcroft residential care home in Bowling after she spent a short period in Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Mr Stachiw claimed his mum Kataryna's wishes were ignored when she was told she would not be able to return to the care home, and would instead be moved to Hazel Bank nursing home in Daisy Hill.

In an attempt to reverse the decision, Mr Stachiw, of Saltaire-based Stachiw Bashir Green Solicitors, launched a High Court injunction against Bradford Council.

He said: "My mother had been at Meadowcroft for seven months. She was admitted to hospital on November 10. However, when she was well enough to come out six days later we were told she would not be allowed back."

After receiving treatment for a chest infection at BRI, the council's social services department claimed Mrs Stachiw needed round-the-clock care in a residential nursing home.

Mr Stachiw added: "Mum underwent a full assessment by Bradford Council social services on August 23, who determined that she needed residential, but not nursing care.

"However, after a second assessment was carried out on October 6, just six weeks later, the authority made the decision that my mother needed round-the-clock nursing care."

Mr Stachiw said his mum could not understand why she could not return to Meadowcroft to enjoy Christmas with friends.

Mr Stachiw added: "I launched the High Court injunction against Bradford Council because I want my mum to return there.

"She was happy there and had plenty of friends at the home who she wanted to spend Christmas with.

"She was moved without her consent. I have sent 11 letters asking for her to be reassessed - but to no avail. She was deemed to be fit to stay in Meadowcroft in August but six weeks later a report said she needed nursing care. Yet, there had been no change in her condition."

Mr Stachiw said an independent medical expert commissioned by him agreed his mum did not need nursing care

Last week, after more than two days of legal wrangling at the High Court in central London, Bradford Council agreed to reassess Mrs Stachiw.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Stachiw said: "The council have agreed to carry out two further reassessments of my mum's medical condition within four weeks. I am very, very happy with the result.

"I am just sad it has taken taxpayers money and High Court action to sort out something which could have been agreed months ago.

"In the meantime my mum will remain in Hazel Bank.

"If further assessments reveal my mum has nursing needs and must remain in Hazel Bank then so be it.

"However, if she is fit enough to return to a residential home, I will consider taking further action."

Peter Kay, head of service for adults and health at Bradford Council, said: "We welcome the agreement reached but regret the matter had - prematurely in our view- been taken to the courts. We now hope to be able to continue working with the family in the best interest of Mrs Stachiw in order to provide her with the most appropriate care possible."