A CARE home has said the wellbeing of residents is their “overriding priority” after three people were found dead and four taken to hospital.

A huge emergency response attended Gainsborough Care Home in Ulwell Road, Swanage, on the morning of Wednesday, October 23.

Police have confirmed that three people were found dead in the home and that their deaths are being treated as unexplained.

Residents in the care home were evacuated to a nearby church ‘where they remain safe and well’.

A spokesperson for Gainsborough Care Home said: “An incident involving the care home took place this morning, and we have been closely working with the lead agencies to manage the welfare of all concerned.

“The wellbeing of residents is always our overriding priority, and part of the local business continuity plan was to transfer residents in a managed way to a local village hall and church, where they remain safe and well.

“We appreciate that this is a stressful and worrying time for those involved, and have allocated extra staffing resources to provide support locally. We are contacting and updating residents’ families. 

“We will continue to work with the lead local authority services to return residents into their home at the earliest opportunity, and will provide further updates in due course.”