In six areas people needing care have more chance of moving into a poorly rated care home than a good one.

Age UK said older people and their families were being "badly let down".

The National Care Association said the care sector faced a number of challenges but there was no defence for poor care.

Analysis of the figures found that in 45 local authority areas, a third of the total, at least one in three beds is in a failing home.

Westminster, Manchester, Wakefield, Kirklees, Portsmouth and Tameside are the worst areas with more than 50% of beds in poor quality homes.

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The analysis of Care Quality Commission data by the consumer group Which?, highlights the regional variation in the provision of quality local care across the country.

Alex Hayman, Which? managing director of public markets, said: "Having to choose a poor care home isn't really making a choice at all, and it's disturbing to know that so many people across the country are already in care homes that are clearly not good enough."

The figures show Westminster has the worst problem with 69% of the 351 beds provided through the authority in poor quality homes.

Westminster City Council said it recognised more could be done and had agreed extra funding to improve its care homes.

In Manchester, some 58% of 2,374 beds are in failing homes while in Wakefield, 58% of 2,375 beds are in substandard care.

It is feared the situation could worsen as demand starts to outstrip supply in an increasing number of local authority areas.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: "Older people and their families who find themselves in this position are entitled to feel outraged and very badly let down.

She added: "We fear this situation is more likely to get worse than better because the funding gap facing social care is already big and projected to keep on growing."

Which? said although its research provided some "worrying figures", there were a small number of areas where at least nine in 10 beds were in good quality care homes including Scilly, Richmond upon Thames and Rutland.

Nadra Ahmed, chair of the National Care Association, said: "There are many challenges to do with funding and recruitment but of course our aim is to ensure the care sector deliver the highest of standards."

Source: BBCNews Local