A plan to open a hostel for homeless young people in an area close to sheltered housing for the elderly has prompted anger among residents.

The City Centre Project, which helps young people with nowhere to live, wants to take over a block of flats in Otley Road for the scheme.

The young people would stay there temporarily until a site was found to construct a purpose-built hostel for the scheme.

But residents say vulnerable old people live in the area and fear there will be problems with youngsters congregating in the streets.

However, project director Jed Din said the young people were also vulnerable and would be supervised and he wanted the project to become part of the

community.

"We want to work and become part

of the community and improve things," he said.

He said there was a mistaken idea that homeless young people are all drug

takers who would cause problems in

the area.

Mr Din added eight homeless people aged between 16 and 25 would live

there, receiving round the clock help and supervision.

The flats have been passed to the project by their owners, Bradford Community Housing Trust.

Today Mr Din said it would be a temporary move because the City Centre Project ultimately wanted to open a purpose-built hostel.

The move to Scargill House in Otley Road would mean the closure of the

existing hostel at Woodville Terrace at Little Horton which Mr Din said was unsuitable.

He added: "Some people say we are bringing criminals and drug dealers into the Otley Road area. But that isn't the case. They are simply young people who need help."

Mr Din said 11 staff would manage the scheme helping the young people with living skills, problems and teaching them citizenship.

The City Centre Project has organised a public meeting at Milton House, Otley Road, at 6pm on April 5, to discuss the plan with members of the community.

The charity has been operating in the city for more than 20 years and in the past year has given hostel places to 57 homeless people but had to turn 174 away because they could not be accommodated.

Resident Terry Patten, a member of Otley Road Residents Association, said: "Many of the residents are aged between 60 and 75 and there are no facilities for young people. There has been a lack of negotiation over this."

Ian Simpson, Executive Director of Bradford West City Community Housing Trust said: "BCHT is happy to assist

the City Centre Project by providing

temporary accommodation for young homeless people.

"Ultimately the flats at Scargill House will be demolished as part of the regeneration of that area and a suitable purpose-built unit will be provided by the City Centre Project on a more permanent basis. We are helping them to find a site.

"At BCHT we have a clear responsibility to help both the prevention of homelessness and to address the needs of homeless people in Bradford."