A distressed elderly woman was filmed by a Whitehaven care worker who then shared the “sickening” images with colleagues for their “entertainment”.

Five members of Harbour View Care Home were sacked after a recording of 81-year-old Irene Kirkpatrick shouting at a staff member was then shared between them on instant messaging service WhatsApp.

Mrs Kirkpatrick’s nephew Stephen Pugh, who had organised her care after the death of her son and husband, said he was disgusted.

Harbour View Care Home, at Bransty, which has apologised to the family, said the issue had been raised with management by another carer and the police were called in.

The five carers, one of whom recorded the incident and shared it with the others via a WhatsApp group, were reported to the Disclosure and Barring Service but have not been banned from working in the care system.

Mr Pugh, son of Mrs Kirkpatrick’s sister Ann, said: “It’s sickening for them to film her for their own entertainment and send that recording to other staff.

"They were doing this when they should be caring for distraught, sick people.

“I was disgusted.

"She was in there to receive care and this is what she received. Words can’t describe how we feel. They have grandparents or elderly relatives themselves – how would they feel?”

Mrs Kirkpatrick, formerly of Cleator Moor and Hensingham, died last September aged 82.

She suffered from heart, liver and lung problems as well as OCD, and was on regular medication.

A “quiet and private” woman who had been “deeply saddened” after the death of her son John, 19, and her husband Tommy, she worked all her life at Kangol in Cleator, attended St Benedict’s Church and had been a beauty contest winner at the Empress Ballroom.

Mr Pugh said he had been concerned about his aunt as she was often agitated and upset, and decided to speak out now after a civil claim fell through when Mrs Kirkpatrick died.

The carer who learned about the filming in late 2015 and immediately told Harbour View management was praised by Mr Pugh, who said his family were "eternally grateful to the carer who enlightened people to this saga".

Harbour View, owned by Four Seasons Health Care, which also praised the carer for her vigilance and concern, said: "A recording was made on a mobile phone of Ms Kirkpatrick being very vocal at a male member of staff.

“The person responsible for the recording and four other members of care staff who shared it between themselves were dismissed.

“We reported the incident to the council’s adult safeguarding team, who notified the police in line with agreed procedure. Furthermore we reported these people to the Disclosure and Barring Service, which did not consider the matter was serious enough to warrant a barring notice.

"The home manager, who was shocked by a recording being made, apologised to members of the family on behalf of the home and the company.

“It is deeply disappointing and upsetting when we come across the exceptions who let down people in their care and their colleagues in the home.”

Harbour View has since organised refresher training in safeguarding and dignity awareness for all staff, and reminded them that mobile phones cannot be used in the workplace.

Mr Pugh said: “My aunt was a family person and a big churchgoer who loved children, she idolised her son. She left money to St Benedict’s Church. Even now I see people who say how nice she was.”