A care home has been forced to make urgent improvements after inspectors reported a strong smell of urine.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England, found numerous problems with the Cheam Cottage Nursing Home when they inspected in November.

The CQC issued three formal warnings to Mr and Mrs J Dudhee, who run the home, after inspectors found "appropriate steps were not being taken to protect people living in the home from the risk of abuse".

In January, another inspection was carried which found the situation at the home had improved and the problems rectified.

Matthew Trainer, deputy director of CQC in London, said: "Our inspectors were pleased to find when they returned that, thanks to CQC’s intervention, the required changes had been made.

"CQC will continue to monitor the home closely to make sure that these improvements are sustained."

Mr Dudhee, in response to findings from the November inspection, claimed the CQC were making him a "scapegoat".

He said: "The residents here are very happy. There are people here with dementia and sometimes they have accidents."

A full report on the January inspection will be made available at www.cqc.org.uk.