The Sandown group of nursing homes in Northern Ireland has been sold in a multi-million pound deal. The group's 30 homes, as well as the Sandown title, has been taken over by Baneberry Healthcare Ltd, a newly-formed company headed by chief executive Mr John Moss with venture capital partners.

The Sandown group was founded in 1968 by Dr Cecil Stewart, who, together with his wife Evelyn, opened his first nursing home on the Sandown Road in Belfast. Almost 30 years later he has realised several millions for the company, which is now the largest privately-owned healthcare group in Britain.