THIS is Joe Gildea - one of four men whose deaths have sparked major concern.

Mr Gildea, 54, died in Basingstoke hospital last November after collapsing at his home in Sandys Road, South Ham.

He, like the other three, died after being moved into the community from Beechwood Lodge - the homeless hostel which closed in Basingstoke last year.

Before it closed, The Gazette voiced fears for the welfare of the occupants who had gradually been moved into the community by Stonham Housing Association, which ran the hostel.

Our opinion column of December 1, 2000 said the experience at Park Prewett hospital - where eight elderly patients died within four months of them being transferred to separate homes following its closure - was a warning sign of what can happen when the system lets vulnerable people down.

Now it could well have happened again.

The four - who all suffered from severe drink problems - were transferred out into the community as part of the Lodge's "move-on" scheme during the two years prior to its closure.

The most recent to die was 66-year-old Alexander Deas, who lay dead in his home in Colyer Close, South Ham, for three weeks before his body was discovered early in January.

The other two are Peter Swain, 49, who died at his home in Domitian Gardens, Rooksdown and Anthony Spong, 64, of Tennyson Way, South Ham. They both died in December.

A neighbour of Mr Spong, Brendan Fox, 49, told The Gazette: "He was a nice generous man who didn't deserve to be left on his own. They shouldn't have closed Beechwood Lodge.

"He used to talk about Beechwood Lodge a lot. He was happy there. He had his security and they gave him all his meals. Welfare services have seriously let him down."

Basingstoke MP Andrew Hunter told The Gazette: "These men had complicated medical needs. It could be that the deaths were just in unfortunate circumstances. On the other hand the pointed worry is that here you have very vulnerable men who against the judgement of many - including myself - were thrown out of Beechwood.

"We were assured by Stonham that they would have care packages and be looked after in the community. The worry is that the packages collapsed. It is essential that this is looked at properly and as independently as possible so we can attain the facts.

"It conjures up memories of Park Prewett and follows on from Parklands patients being held in prison cells. There are a lot of serious questions to be asked about the provision of mental care."

A spokeswoman for Stonham Housing Association told The Gazette: "Residents who were there had their needs assessed by the social services department and were given care packages.

"As far as some residents were concerned, care packages were not required."

A Hampshire Social Services spokesman said none of men was given care packages and added that staff didn't come into contact with any of the four in terms of offering care packages.