DAVID Ward, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Bradford East, was yesterday given first-hand views, by care providers, on the cost of social care in the area.

He spoke to private care providers, which form the Bradford Care Association, at Czajka Care Group in Shipley yesterday on what Bradford council is paying companies for providing the service.

The association has warned that firms could face being forced out of business as a result of the hourly rate the authority pays, which has remained frozen for the last three years. Mr Ward said: “The danger is the smaller care providers go out of business and then the council are at the mercy of the big companies and what they may charge. This issue needs to be dealt with by the council.”

Other candidates in Bradford East are Iftikhar Ahmed (Conservative), Imran Hussain (Labour), James Lewthwaite (British Democrats), Owais Rajput (Ukip) and Dave Stevens (Green).