UP to 6,500 care homes could close in Britain in the next five years without new investment, a property consultancy says.

As reported in the Times newspaper on Monday, Knight Frank said the country faces a "national bed crisis" without £15billion investment.

A report also warned that an increasing number of care homes are "not fit for purpose".

The coronavirus crisis in care homes has lead to scrutiny of the Government’s approach to limiting the spread of infection among residents and staff.

Last week, health secretary Matt Hancock announced a package of funding and measures to protect both residents and staff.

It comes after alarming figures revealed there were over 12,000 Covid-related deaths of care home residents nationally, between March 2 and May 1.

Local care homes will benefit from a share of the new £600m Infection Control Fund, which will be ringfenced for social care.