Private care homes tasked with ensuring the welfare of the elderly on behalf of local authorities are not covered by human rights laws.

Such is the conclusion of the law lords, reached today in a three-two majority, in a development which could affect up to 300,000 residents across the UK.

The decision was reached on the back of a case involving an octogenarian resident suffering from Alzheimer's, known as YL, whose lawyers suggested that her potential eviction would compromise human rights rules on a right to family life.

Lawyers suggested that a private home was conducting a public function when caring for those forwarded by the council and was therefore subject to the act, but the law lords have rejected the argument, 24dash.com reports.

However, they also suggested that YL's case should be referred to the highest courts possible, as a result of its wide-ranging importance.

Anna Fairclough, lawyer for the civil rights group Liberty, said: "It would seem that judges do not have the monopoly on enhancing human rights protection and government does not have the monopoly on diminishing it.

"We are very disappointed by today's majority decision."