Edwina Mountbatten House in Romsey sold for undisclosed sum

The news was announced this evening by the Trustees of the Edwina Mountbatten Romsey Memorial Trust following what they described as a "lengthy and rigorous process".

The new owners, Churchill Retirement Living, are now in possession of the building and land.

All the funds from the sale are now with the charity, the Edwina Mountbatten Romsey Memorial Trust, the objective of which is to help elderly people who are in need.

Churchill's plans for the site are currently unclear.

A spokesman for the trust said it would be making no further comment.

The care home, in Palmerston Street, was run by not-for-profit organisation by the Countess Mountbatten of Burma Memorial Trust.

It had 23 beds supported by 30 full and part time staff.

A registered charity, the management of the home was overseen by a board of trustees.

The trustees took the decision to close the care home on July 15.

In June they said: “We have to face the very difficult decision that the home is not financially sustainable due to its small number of beds, rising domestic costs and as a result of issues affecting the economy from around the world.

Staff and Romsey locals reacted with shock to the news of the consultation and they had tried to get a campaign off the ground to save the home.

The home was founded in the memory of Lady Edwina Mountbatten, 1st Countess Mountbatten of Burma and was established in 1970 by the Mountbatten family, local residents, Hampshire County Council and other supporters.