Fresh hope has been given to campaigners fighting to save a highly-valued Fakenham care home.

West Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group has confirmed is considering taking on the threatened healthcare beds at Cranmer House.

The move could help to secure the future of the unit.

A spokesperson said: 'West Norfolk CCG already commissions beds at Cranmer House and is looking to see whether we would wish to increase our usage of the facility as part of the future development of local services.'

North Norfolk district councillors voiced their opposition at a meeting last month to further plans by North Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group to cut healthcare beds at Cranmer House.

Fakenham district councillor Annie Claussen-Reynolds said: 'Cranmer House has huge potential for activities linked to supported care and it would be a crying shame to lose this facility.'

Council leader Tom FitzPatrick said: 'We fully support finding ways of ensuring a viable future for Cranmer House as the wonderful care provided is hugely important to people in the town and surrounding area. We wish to see full public consultation by the NNCCG before they again consider withdrawing funding and ask them to work with West Norfolk CCG to ensure the future of these excellent facilities.'

This newspaper joined campaigners in fighting to save Cranmer House and hundreds signed a petition when it became apparent that funding for the beds was under threat last year.

A spokesperson for North Norfolk CCG said: 'NNCCG has informed the Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust of its intentions to change the way it commissions services from Cranmer House. The CCG is investing in a supported care model which aims to prevent people being admitted to hospitals unnecessarily and to help people stay living independently by providing more care for people in a community setting.

'The CCG commissions services from Cranmer House alongside other parties and is discussing alternative uses for the unit with the Friends of the Hospital and our community engagement panel which includes representatives from NNDC. These alternative uses include, but are not limited to, working with other CCG organisations.'