Herefordshire Council is under pressure to retain an "active interest" in OAP homes in Ledbury and Bromyard after news it may have to surrender more control to its proposed private operator.

The council is currently in talks with Shaw Homes about handing over the operation of five of its OAP homes in return for investment in the units.

The council retaining ownership has been a central part of the arrangement to hand over control of the homes, which include Leadon Bank in Ledbury and Froome Bank in Bromyard.

However Shaw, the council's preferred bidder, now says it needs a long lease on the buildings and a contract from the council in order to satisfy its bankers and raise the £10 million investment needed.

The news has been met with concern by the public services union Unison, which is calling for the council to retain "active ownership" when a final deal is struck in the New Year.

Branch secretary Eddie Clark: "We expect the council to stand by its promise and for the active ownership to remain with the local authority.

"This could make a nonsense of previous assurances given to staff and residents at the homes. We have been assured all along that the properties will remain with the authority."

Herefordshire Council has always presented the planned arrangement as a partnership, whereby Shaw would take on the running of the homes and the ownership would stay with the local authority.

But Shaw, in a joint statement with the council, confirmed this week that it is seeking a leasehold interest for the care homes, while Herefordshire Council was offering a long lease as negotiations continue.

Jeremy Nixey, Shaw's chief executive said: "Shaw Homes plans to invest £10m in the homes on the security of a leasehold interest. The council is proposing to offer Shaw a long lease, and we will be pleased to accept this, as a basis for progressing negotiations."

He added: "If you own a leasehold, you can refer to it as your property. Any bank lends on the security of some kind of interest in a property."

Under a leasehold arrangement, Shaw could own Leadon Bank for up to 999 years, but the land would be likely to remain the property of the council.