A CARE home which closed down after health watchdogs found it failing to provide adequate standards of care could be turned into a hotel.

The Manor House Residential Home in Lynmouth closed in May 2011.

Leaseholders Gordon and Val Watson shut up shop following reports from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which highlighted several areas of the home were failing.

The Watsons' lease ran out at the end of January.

Lynton and Lynmouth Town Council owns the building and is now offering a lease on the property.

Barnstaple estate agent Webbers Commercial is dealing with the sale and said it has already had several interested hoteliers look at Manor House.

For the past 19 years the grade two listed property has been a care home but before this it was a county house hotel called The Manor House Hotel.

It has 15 bedrooms, a coach house, a five-bedroom annexe and a two bedroom cottage.

Lynton and Lynmouth Mayor Tim Parker said: "At the end of the day we are hoping the building will be used again soon and will look at each vendor's case with an open mind – we will look for the best we can for the electorate."

Mr Parker said he had childhood memories of when the Manor was run as a hotel.

The CQC report issued in October 2010 showed several areas for concern in the home including arrangements for handling and storing medications, which it was felt could put residents "at risk of not receiving their correct medicines".

But six months later, by the time the Watsons decided to close the premises, the CQC had noted much improvement.

In a report completed in April last year the inspectors said the Manor House was almost meeting all the essential standards of quality and safety it had reviewed but three areas still needed improvement.

By this time the owners had employed an external consultant and were a month into their three month notice of the home closing.