SOCIAL services bosses called in to investigate allegations of abuse at a council-run care home say they hope to finish the long-running probe by the end of this week.

Two care staff were suspended on full pay following allegations of physical abuse made 10 weeks ago.

Five staff also remain on sick leave as the investigation at Wilfred Geere Care Home, on Highfield Road, Farnworth, continues.

More than 70 residents, staff and families have been interviewed since the allegations were made by a worker in July.

The allegations were aimed at two members of staff.

Council chiefs hoped to complete the investigation within one month but say the delay is due to difficulties in contacting families.

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: "We are taking this very seriously.

"We have suspended two members of staff which in no way presumes any guilt and, as a matter of standard practice, senior staff have been moved to other homes to allow the investigation to go on.

"There were 70 people to interview and it has taken longer than we anticipated because of problems we have faced in getting hold of people who were on holiday."

A suspended worker at the centre said: "The allegations are simply not true.

"Some of us are so worried that it is making us ill."

The allegations date back to between three and four years and involve residents who are now dead, said the worker.