Northamptonshire County Council is taking over the management of four care homes nine years earlier than planned after it negotiated a change to a long-running PFI contract.

The four care homes were part of a 25-year contract with Shaw Healthcare that was due to run until 2029.

However, the council will now take responsibility for providing care and staffing after it argued adult social care needs have changed significantly since the contract began.

Cllr Ian Morris, rhe council's cabinet member for adult social care, said: 'Adult social care needs have changed significantly since the original contract was first agreed, and we have been looking at all options to find the best way forward so we are delighted to have been able to work collaboratively with Shaw to come to this agreement.

'Through this agreement we will have flexibility and control over how the four specialist care centres are used to meet the needs of local people and they will be a key part of how the new unitary councils support people requiring short-term care and support in Northamptonshire.'