THE Prime Minister has said he supports calls for a care home to remain on the site of Nazareth House.

Boris Johnson’s support for the plea comes after the Echo revealed the historic facility is set to close.

Southend West MP David Amess spoke on the issue in Parliament yesterday, citing concerns over the future of dozens of residents who will now have to find a new place to live.

The closure comes after the home, which has been running for 147 years, stated it was now “operationally unsustainable” and plans to demolish the building and build a new facility were rejected by Southend Council.

Sir David has always been a passionate advocate of the home, in London Road, which is where his mother was cared for before she died aged 104.

Sir David said: “Will my right honourable friend join me in thanking the religious orders of Nazareth House in Southend for their caring for vulnerable people over 147 years and meet with myself and others to ensure their caring mission continues on that site?”

Mr Johnson thanked Sir David for his “tireless effort” in supporting Nazareth House, adding he would support the cause.

Richard Whitby, chief executive officer for the trust, thanked the pair for the support, adding the future of the site is still undecided.

He said: “Nazareth Care would like to thank Sir David Amess for his long term support of the work of the Sisters of Nazareth in Southend.

“We are also grateful for the tribute paid by him and the Prime Minister in the House of Commons.

“As far as the future of the care home is concerned, the process of the closure of the existing home is already underway. As we said in our earlier statement, the current home is sadly operationally and financially unsustainable. The long-term future of the sight is still to be decided by the Congregation Sisters of Nazareth.”

The Nazareth Care Charitable Trust and Southend Council had been in a battle over the building, with the owners hoping to have the building demolished and a new facility built in its place. Those plans were ultimately refused in October 2018 .

In a report published in June last year, the home was labelled inadequate and cited serious failings of leadership. It had since improved to ‘requires improvement’.