Two of the district’s care homes have been bought by a newly-formed company, securing the jobs of 84 staff.

P&C Care Ltd, based in Shipley, has taken on the Ivy Nursing Home in Shipley and The Mount Nursing Home in Bolton, Bradford, which were formerly part of Holberry Care Ltd.

The new company is run by Patrick and Catherine Berry, who will manage both of the 40-bed homes.

Mr Berry is a qualified nurse, who worked for the NHS for 17 years before moving into the private sector. He has run care homes for more than two decades.

Mrs Berry has worked in finance and nursing home administration.

Mr Berry said: “Having spent most of our lives working in the care home sector, we are passionate about providing the very best for our clients.

“We look forward to continuing to operate these homes to a high standard and building on their excellent reputation and business success, as well as expanding and acquiring further homes in the future.”

The deal was made possible by a multi-million-pound funding package involving National Westminster Bank Plc, arranged and supported by the funder Reward Capital, which itself invested a six-figure sum.