FAMILY of a 100-year-old who faced being forced out of a Risca care home praised its staff after she died and said they are still backing the campaign to save it.

Irene Gough, who reached the milestone last month and celebrated with family at the closure-threatened Ty Darran, died in her sleep on Good Friday.

Mrs Gough became a face of a campaign set up to save the residential home after Caerphilly council entered a three-month consultation into the possible closure in January.

Mrs Gough's granddaughter, Angela Millard, 49, said: "The ladies in the home were absolutely amazing, the way they looked after us as well was absolutely fantastic, we couldn't have asked for any better.

"They were very upset when my nan passed away - the council ought to be very proud of that workforce and should hold them up as a beacon. I'd like other people to have the care my nan had, it was first class and I would hate other people not to have that facility."

Born in Newbridge, Mrs Gough was one of nine children, she went to Newbridge Grammar School, but left at 13 to care for her mother.

She married her husband, Harry, in Newbridge in 1935 and had three children. Mr Gough died in 1987.

Mrs Gough had four grandchildren, six great grandchildren and one surviving brother, Horace Durham, 91.

She was one of 14 residents at the 36-bed home, which also employs 28 people.

Her daughter, Connie Watkins, said: "She was a very kind lady and very family orientated. She enjoyed dancing and loved singing - that's what we'll remember her for."

Mrs Watkins said staff at Ty Darran would often hear her singing her favourite song I'll have the last Waltz with you.

Caerphilly council will decide next month whether to close the home, saying parts of it are not fit for purpose and redevelopment would cost £500,000 with annual running costs of £444,000.

Mrs Gough's funeral is on Tuesday at 2pm in Ellis Williams funeral home, Newbridge, before she is buried in Abercarn cemetery.