A Norwich care home has hit back at accusations that it is unsafe and one of the worst in the country.

Northgate House, in Hellesdon, was named in a list of care homes in national newspaper the Mirror, which was judged by inspectors to be inadequate in every area.

Hudgell Solicitors examined the 250 Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports for inadequate homes across the country, and found 14 were ­inadequate in all five areas rated, which are safe, effective, caring, ­responsive and well-led, including Northgate House.

But operations manager Ziggy Ruhomutally said inspectors only visited for one day in March this year and he regarded his residents as his family.

He moved to distance his home from others on the list where he said there were more serious accusations of residents not being bathed or looked after.

Mr Ruhomutally said: 'We've never not bathed our residents.

'I've got a great team here of caring professionals, no one has asked to leave the home, people are happy. I want to make sure my residents are safe and we're making sure the place is rock solid, we're a passionate care home and we've been established for over 30 years.'

When the CQC visited the home they highlighted a number of problems including one resident losing 14kg in three months and staff not having Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

They placed Northgate House in special measures and said the management of service was 'chaotic and disorganised' and that the provider was 'continuing to fail those in their care'.

Mr Ruhomutally admitted there had been things go wrong but moved to reassure residents and their families that steps had already been taken to improve.

He said: 'I have to put my hands up as operations manager [...] but we've hand picked our new team, we've got a third party coming in and we're getting people to come and work with us.

'I care for my residents, they are my family.

'I'm taking the right actions and making sure my staff are the right staff, we're working with the CQC - we get updates every month, if they were not happy with us they would come in and close us.'

The CQC's chief inspector of adult social care Andrea Sutcliffe CBE said 'most care services in England are providing good, safe care'.

But she added: 'The public need to be reassured that if there are any problems, these are being ­identified and tackled.'