Bet Collins, 83, and Peggy Squires, 86, have seen all their friends move out of Burdwood House in Brighton Road, Lancing, one by one since last year. Mrs Collins said: "They want us out, and the sooner the better, so they can knock this place down, but I am holding out as long as possible. I will find a flat eventually when I am ready.

"I have seen all my friends move out one by one and now there are just two of us left. When we first came here it was completely full and we had such a lovely social life. Our warden is an absolute wonder."

The residents have been told the home will be closed July, when it will be demolished and replaced by 20 new affordable apartments.

Owner Rosemary Simmons Memorial Housing Association said it had spent £10,000 in one month alone last year on emergency repairs to the dilapidated building.

But, despite numerous attempts to move Mrs Collins, she said she had been refusing to budge because her ground-floor flat was perfectly suitable for her.

Each of the residents has been offered one of the new apartments, which should be ready 18 months after the site has been cleared.

Mrs Collins had to wait 12 years with her husband Reg for her flat to become available. She has lived at the Burdwood House for 11 years. Reg died two years ago and she scattered his ashes in the back garden.

She said: "We feel betrayed. These people have no compassion for the elderly."

Former resident Betty Park, 86, was found dead in her chair in August, 2006, having died of an overdose at the home. She had written a suicide letter saying she could not face leaving.

A planning application has been lodged with Adur council to demolish Burdwood House and replace it with a two and three storey building facing Brighton Road.

The development would include four one-bedroom flats for people with learning difficulties, a communal room and room for a scheme manager to sleep on site. There would be 10 other one-bedroom flats and six two-bedroom flats. These would be for general housing needs.

The development also includes two one- bedroom bungalows to the rear of the main development, these would be earmarked for older residents.

An Adur District Council spokeswoman said: "We are committed to supporting financially the redevelopment of this building to provide better-quality homes for people with housing need.

"To this end, we have been working with the Rosemary Simmons Memorial Housing Association to help them find more suitable homes for the remaining tenants, who will be offered the opportunity to return should they wish."

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