A hostel for psychiatric patients, which closed 'temporarily' for a shake-up in its management, may be sold off.

Health bosses insisted in the summer that Thorncliffe House, Banbury Road, north Oxford, would only be closed for a short period while its management shifted from Oxfordshire Mental Health Care Trust to a housing association.

At the time staff at the hostel, which provided a half-way house for young people with mental health problems, spoke of their concerns that the temporary closure could become permanent.

Now it appears their worst fears could be justified.

A statement released to the Oxford Mail by the Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare Trust said plans to develop Thorncliffe House as a hostel run by a voluntary organisation might have to be reviewed.

It said the review followed problems getting the necessary capital to improve the property.

"The trust is now considering offering the property up for sale and providing similar hostel-type accommodation elsewhere," the statement added.

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