WORK to rebuild a care home in Colchester has started after a nine-month delay.

Mayor Sonia Lewis unveiled the first stones to be laid at the £5million St Fillan Care Centre, in St Fillan Road.

It replaces Greenways Care Home, which closed in October 2008 amid abuse allegations.

Once finished, the new building will have 69 en-suite bedrooms for low to high dependency care, cinema rooms, a hairdresser and beauty salon, and a library.

It should have been ready by spring next year, but it is not expected to open until November 2011.

Excelcare, the home’s parent company, put the delay down to problems with the economy and hold-ups in the planning, design and consultation phase.

Osman Ertosun, chief executive, said the new home would create 70 new jobs.

He added: “We have already had lots of enquiries from people in the area.”

Mr Ertosun could not say how many beds would be sold privately and how many would be Essex County Council places.

He added: “It sounds vague, but in six months the hospital may have a crisis and need us to assist with alleviating bed blocking.

“That detail will be decided late on, so we have a more accurate picture of what the need is.”

Colchester Council granted Excelcare permission for the new building in May 2009.

Nine months have passed since builders cleared the site, last December, to the ceremony yesterday.

Paul Smith, St John’s ward councillor, said: “Local people are very pleased work has started.

“They are looking forward to it opening and providing services for the local community.

“There will be 30 construction jobs on site and 60 to 70 jobs at the home when it is up and running.

“All of that is good news for Colchester.”