NORTH Ayrshire Council are making a play to take over the doomed Red Cross House, the Times can exclusively reveal.

Council chiefs have confirmed they are weighing up a move to take over the stricken Options for Independence facility which closed its doors officially on Friday, April 15.

Current owners Red Cross announced in November they would no longer be offering residential care and confirmed the facility would be closing this month unless a buyer could be found.

Despite interest from numerous parties, no deal could be struck before the April 15 deadline and the facility closed its doors, leaving 21 vulnerable residents displaced and needing rehomed and its 77 staff redundant.

Now the times can reveal that North Ayrshire Council is "exploring options" for the facility although it is not known what, if they purchased it, they would use it for.

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “We can confirm that we are currently exploring options for Red Cross House. However, at this time, no decisions have been made.”

A spokesman for Red Cross said: "Any discussions we're involved in with any interested parties are, at this stage, confidential."

Just last week the Times exclusively revealed that the Red Cross were already advertising some of the self-contained, one bedroom apartments within the complex for private let - - more than week before it had even officially closed.

Charity bosses are advertising to find new tenants for the self contained flats within the Tarryholme Drive centre which were formerly the homes of some of its most vulnerable and disabled residents.

The properties are advertising for ‘property guardians’ who are in full time or part time employment to rent the properties for a bargain fee of £200 per month - which includes all water, gas, electricity and rates which has left some people outraged.

The closure caused much controversy after it was revealed that many of the residents have been moved in to nursing care along side the elderly and people suffering dementia.

Options for Independence was one of only two facilities of its kind in Scotland and worked with adults who were adjusting to an illness, health condition or disability, providing immediate, skilled support and opportunities so people can live more independently, with some users actually living within the facility.