ELDERLY residents of a private care home were left lying for hours in their own urine because not enough staff were employed to change them, a court heard.

The residents, some in their 90s, were allegedly neglected for months at St Michael's Care Home in Waddington.

Mark Van der Zwart, prosecuting, told a jury at Lincoln Crown Court that one incontinent patient was unable to use the toilet in his own room because it was deliberately blocked off.

And a frail 96-year-old woman was kept in virtual isolation after she was deemed "too violent" to mix with other residents in communal rooms.

The court heard there was one instance an elderly woman who suffered from severe bed sores had her emergency alarm removed, leaving her to cry out for assistance whenever she was in pain.

And it was alleged that tesidents at the home were repeatedly left throughout the night without having their incontinence pads changed. But they were unable to complain due to their difficulty in communicating.

Mr Van der Zwart said that the neglect was due to failings by home manager Elaine Noble, 57, of Lagonda Close, Bracebridge Heath, under whose charge standards had spiralled downwards.

She denies three charges of neglect and the trial continues.

For full details of the allegations, see Thursday's Echo.