The Evening Telegraph revealed last month the Alton Centre care home in Irchester Road, Knuston, had been put in special measures by the Commission for Social Care Inspections amid "serious and urgent" concerns.

At an appeal at the Care Standards Tribunal in London yesterday, a spokesman for the CSCI confirmed that fears were raised in early August about the safety and welfare of the 28 residents and the sudden death of a resident on July 15.

Inspectors carried out a spot inspection on August 6 amid concerns about nutrition and hydration, wound care and the management of medication and medical conditions, and on the same night another patient died.

Active Care Partnership, which runs the home, was ordered to hand over control to Northamptonshire County Council and Northamptonshire Teaching Primary Care Trust.

The PCT sent in a team of nurses and carers to work with the home's own staff in caring for the residents on a short-term basis.

Active Care Partnership applied to the High Court to overturn the order but at a recent High Court hearing, the judge ordered the transfer of responsibility to stand until the outcome of an appeal made by the company against the closure.

The appeal is expected to finish today, and some want it to remain open.

Colin Todd, of Bath Road, Kettering, whose mum Anne is at the centre, said: "My mum is still at the home and she is one of the main residents who are fighting the closure.

"She has been in nursing homes around the country and she thinks this is the best one she's ever been in. She feels extremely unsettled and somewhat distraught because of what's happened."

Mr Todd added: "My mother is prepared to fight the closure all the way and I will support her in that.

"She hasn't allowed any assessment to be carried out on her and her needs because she doesn't want the authorities to start suggesting she move to other places."

Leslie Weatherley, of Daventry, whose sister moved to the Alton Centre after a stroke four years ago, also praised the centre.

He said: "We're having a meeting at the centre today and have already been asked to look at another place for my sister in Northampton.

"But we want to wait to see what decision the Care Standards Tribunal makes about the home.

"The staff at the Alton Centre got my sister walking again after her stroke when physiotherapists had given up on her, so I've never had anything but praise for them.

"I still find it hard to believe that these sorts of things might have gone on."