Louisa: I'll do anything to stay

Close to tears, the 106-year-old replies: "I love it here, this is where my life is." Louisa, one of Britain's oldest women, and eight other pensioners were left devastated after a last-ditch bid to keep their Wolverhampton care home open was rejected this week.

Yet alongside her deep disappointment lies a steely determination to do whatever it takes to ensure Underhill House stays open, against the wishes of one of the country's largest local authorities.

Louisa, a former key maker at Davenport Burgess in Willenhall who gave up her work to look after three children early in her life, is nothing if not a fighter.

After the death of her former factory worker husband George in 1977, she was determined to live in her home until she was just too frail to carry on, and managed to stay in her house in Pickering Road, Wednesfield, until she was 102.

It was only four years ago that her son Derek, aged 76, thought she needed residential care, and the family opted for Underhill House, where she remains today as Britain's fifth oldest person.

Mr Watts, who lives with wife Maureen in Parker Road, Wednesfield, said: "The move from her house in Pickering Road to here was a big one, but she soon settled down here and came to love the staff and the other residents.

"That's the story of mum's life. She has always been independent but she now does not want the worry of another move. If she is forced out, it might kill her, and if it does I am going to take the council to the highest court in the land."

It was back in April that the council's Tory cabinet approved the closure of the site, which is part of plans to cut £40 million from the authority's budget by 2011.

Since the decision around 11 residents have moved out, but the final nine, led by Louisa, enlisted the help of Yvonne Hossack, a Northampton-based campaigning solicitor who specialises in keeping care homes open against the wishes of local authorities.

An injunction was granted in the spring to prevent anyone else moving out, and Miss Hossack took her case first to the county court in Birmingham and then to the Court of Appeal in London, and was twice refused a judicial review over the decision.

Yesterday she lodged an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights, something Miss Hossack calls "literally the last chance" to save the home.

Miss Hossack has also lodged a fresh appeal for an injunction to prevent the council moving anyone out, and is still waiting to see if that is successful.

The Watts family, funded by legal aid, say they are still crossing their fingers that they win.

"I'm happy here, I think it's great. The people here are like family to me, I will do anything to stay, anything. I don't see why I should have to move," said Mrs Watts.