SIR David Amess has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to work with him to save Nazareth House care home in central Southend

Nazareth House, in London Road, in Southend, will close its doors on February 17 after caring for people for 147 years.

Sir David, MP for Southend West and a huge supporter of Nazareth House, urged the PM to meet him to ensure Nazareth House continues on its existing site. 

Sir David also used Prime Minister's Questions to again press the case for Southend to become a city.

Sir David said: "I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his endeavours to get Brexit done, but, as he knows only too well, something else needs to be got done.

"In an exchange with me on 25 July, he said that Southend would become a city.

"Before all that happens, however, will he join me in thanking the religious orders of Nazareth House in Southend for caring for vulnerable people for 147 years, and will he meet me and others to ensure that its caring mission continues on that site?"

The PM said he was "happy" to support Nazareth House.

He added: "I thank my hon. Friend for everything that he does for Nazareth House.

"I saw the good work that it does when I was Mayor of London, and I am happy to support it.

"As for the “citification” of Southend, it continues at a pace set by my hon. Friend."