An investigation is being carried out into charges being paid by residents of an Ilkley sheltered housing complex.

MP Ann Cryer was contacted by residents at the 42-flat complex in Springs Lane after they discovered that the service charges being levied by the owners included sums to pay for the resident warden's telephone, heating and lighting bills.

The complex is owned by Cheshire-based Johnnie Johnson Housing, which owns around 65 sheltered housing complexes around the UK.

Mrs Cryer wrote to chief executive Jim Lunney expressing concern about the matter of payment of the warden's bills.

She said the phone bill was private and should not be paid by residents, and she understood it was not in their contracts to pay for the warden's heat and light bills.

Mrs Cryer also passed on her concerns to Bradford Council's housing benefits service, as some residents have their rent and service charges paid by the Council.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "We have asked for a full breakdown of the service charges in order to clarify the situation. We are confident the matter will be resolved satisfactorily."

In a written reply to Mrs Cryer, Mr Lunney said the warden's telephone was for private and business use and all private phone calls were reimbursed to the company by a deduction from her wages.

He said: "The second point concerns the heat and light charges for the resident manager's accommodation. It is necessary to live on site to provide this service and therefore residents share the housing costs associated with the provision of an on-site service.

"These costs have long been recognised in case law as a valid part of the overall service cost."