Elderly residents' deaths probed

The deaths of five elderly residents at the same nursing home within the space of two days are being investigated by police.

The residents, all of whom were aged between 74 and 91, died last Sunday and Monday at Orchar Nursing Home in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee.

It was reported in The Courier newspaper that the funerals of three of the five people were halted to allow post mortem examinations to be carried out.

New admissions to the care home have reportedly been suspended while the police investigation takes place.

A police spokesman said: "Tayside Police is making inquiries into the deaths of five elderly people at a nursing home in Broughty Ferry earlier this week.

"The force was advised on Tuesday, that five residents - a man aged 74 years old and four women aged 81, 88, 90 and 91 years old - had died during Sunday and Monday.

"While there are no apparent suspicious circumstances surrounding any of the deaths, Tayside Police is investigating the full set of circumstances surrounding them and will report to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.

"Those inquiries are at a very early stage and it is not possible to comment further at this time."