A police investigation has been launched.

A police investigation has been launched following the deaths of two care home residents.

Officers have been called in at Elizabeth House, Benfleet Road, Hadleigh.

It follows the deaths of a 90-year-old woman and 79-year-old man.

The home is operated by Runwood Homes who have dozens of care homes across the country including Silvanna Court in Wickford and Rosedale Court in Rayleigh.

Essex Police confirmed it is not the deaths being treated as suspicious but potential negligence concerning the care residents received prior to their deaths.

Officers would like to speak to anyone who has information which could help.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of two people at a care home.

“We received reports that a 90-year-old woman had died on July 19, and a 79-year-old man had died four days later.

“Both of their deaths are being treated as non-suspicious but we are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to their deaths.

“We are liaising closely with the care home provider, Essex County Council and the Care Quality Commission.”

No official causes of death have been recorded at this time and no inquests have taken place.

Elizabeth House, which cares for 95 people, was inspected by the Care Quality Commission in May and received an overall rating of good but was rated as requires improvement for safety.

The report stated: “Before the inspection we had been made aware of a number of concerns at the service in the previous few months.

“Some of these concerns were raised due to people falling and sustaining injury and some were raised due to concerns about people’s care and missing property.

“The registered manager has been working with the local authority safeguarding team and police to investigate these concerns and to address issues to make sure people are safe.”

A spokesman for Runwood Homes said: “Elizabeth House has undergone some managerial changes and continues to work positively in partnership with all key stakeholders to uphold the quality of care delivered to all of our residents.

"It would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases.”

Anyone with information should call Det Insp Anna Granger on 101.

A CQC spokesman said: "CQC carried out an inspection at Elizabeth House in Benfleet between 26, 27 and 28 July as a result of concerns that had been highlighted about the home.

"We are monitoring the home very closely and liaising with the local authority with regard to it. We will publish a full report of our inspection findings in due course."