HAMPSHIRE County Council has been told to release information about tests to see if water in a former Petersfield care home was contaminated with Legionnaires bacteria.

It was revealed by the Post on February 12, 2014, the potentially fatal bacteria had been found in the water at Bulmer House, off Ramshill.

But Dilys Lownsborough of Bell Hill in Petersfield believes the bacteria was present for some time before that.

On February 4, 2014, the last two residents, her mother was one, left the home and it was closed by the council.

But the authority refused to release interim reports about tests carried out in January 2014.

This month the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) said the council could face legal action if it doesn’t release the documents.

ICO?officer Deborah Clark said: “The commissioner requires the authority to disclose the interim reports dated February 5 and February 19, 2014, to ensure compliance with the legislation.

“Failure may result in a written certification of this fact to the High Court and it may be dealt with as contempt of court.”

Until now, the council has dismissed requests for the reports to be made public.

They relate to tests carried out around January 21, claims Mrs Lownsborough, who lodged a Freedom of Information request asking for the paperwork to be released.

In reply to her query she was sent copies of the reports, but with the test results blacked out, which the council claimed it was entitled to do.

But the ICO disagreed, and wrote to Mrs Lownsborough and the council, saying the information had to be released 35 days after the case officers decision of October 5.

Bulmer House was built in the 1970s, and it was closed by the county council, who said it would be too expensive and impracticable to modernise.

At the time the council pledged a new care home would be built on the same site. But Mrs Lownsborough believes it won’t be replaced.

She said: “I can see the site being used for housing.”

Hampshire County Council says it hopes to reveal new plans for the Bulmer House site early next year.

The commissioner’s ruling can be seen at www.ico.org.uk, reference Hampshire County Council, case number FER0589796.