Work has begun on a new care home on the site of the former Four Winds pub in Dracaena Avenue.

Outline planning permission for the home was granted in October 2017 after an earlier application to build 153 student beds was rejected.

The former pub was badly damaged in a fire in January 2017 which a Falmouth fire investigator later said was "most likely" started deliberately.

Read more: Falmouth Four Winds blaze most likely started deliberately

The 66-bed care home will be run by national care provider Barchester Healthcare.

It is being built by Midas Construction Ltd and is expected to open in February 2021.

Senior property development manager at Barchester Andy Williams said: "My colleagues and I were very impressed with work we saw at the latest Barchester site. The new care home will be an important facility for the district and a very welcome source of employment."

The home will provide dedicated dementia care as well as personalised residential care.

Andy added: "We are very excited about the construction of our new care home in Falmouth, and are really pleased that our prospective residents will have a home set in such beautiful grounds.

“There is a real need for quality care in the local area and our new home will definitely meet this, and potentially give a boost to employment in neighbouring communities.”

Midas operational manager James Smith said: “We are delighted to be on site delivering Barchester Healthcare’s first care home in Falmouth.

"We look forward to a long and successful partnership with this valued client as we work with them to deliver their extensive programme of high quality, purpose built care homes across the UK.”

Read more: Falmouth care home could be replaced with five apartment blocks