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Three women in their 90s have been asked to leave a sheltered home because of alleged disruptive behaviour, writes Alex Dobson.

The three women have been asked to leave Abbeyfield House in Stow-on-the-Wold after receiving warnings that their behaviour caused a series of staff resignations, and is threatening the home’s long term future.

But the three residents deny that their behaviour has caused disruption and an unpleasant atmosphere at the home run by the Abbeyfield Society

Celia Gill, aged 94, Anita Merrick, aged 92, and another 94-year-old resident who does not want to be named, have been told that their ‘haughty and divisive’ behaviour and critical comments must cease. The three women say they are not trouble-makers, and that they simply wish to draw attention to issues that they do not feel comfortable with.

Stephen Boyo, Housing Policy Officer at Age Concern, said the situation could have been avoided: "We are very concerned about the deep distress this is likely to have caused to the residents, and the way that the situation has been allowed to develop.

A spokesperson for the Abbeyfield Society said: "It is part of Abbeyfield’s ethos to maintain a pleasant domestic atmosphere for the benefit of residents and all concerned. At Abbeyfield House this atmosphere is threatened, and the local Abbeyfield Stow Society is doing all it can to restore harmony.

"It is working to resolve the difficulties with three residents who have received two verbal warnings, and then a written warning informing them that disruptive behaviour must cease, so that all the residents can live together peacefully in the house," he said.

Gloucestershire council said that social services was already providing support for one of the women involved in the Abbeyfield House row.