A tenant and his girlfriend today spoke of their terror after coming face-to-face with a knife-wielding squatter.

Paul Learoyd, 19, and Claire Terry, 16, went to view a refurbished council flat at Lydford House, Little Horton, Bradford.

They left in disgust after being confronted by a group of squatters and seeing the property littered with drug-users' needles.

Mr Learoyd has been sleeping on floors since leaving home four months ago to make room for his ill grandfather.

He was supposed to be shown around the flat by a Bradford Council housing officer but he and his girlfriend arrived at the premises early and decided to take a look on their own.

"When we pushed open the door we couldn't believe what we found," said Mr Learoyd.

"One of them was flashing a big carving knife at me and when I said it was my flat he said that it was theirs. There were dirty needles all over the floor. I couldn't believe it."

He said the pair saw a woman and four men, in the flat, all aged between 19 and 35.

"They seemed like they were all off their heads and so me and Claire just left. She was scared and disgusted." said Mr Learoyd.

When the council officer arrived Mr Learoyd told her he did not want the flat.

"I have been waiting for about four months but I don't want to live somewhere like that," he said.

" I'm gutted because I am actually homeless.

"I would have taken it if these people had not been in and left needles all over."

Geraldine Howley, Bradford Council's director of housing, said: "We understand why Mr Learoyd was upset and we will be offering him alternative accommodation.

"It is unfortunate that a group of people broke into the flat and we will be investigating how that happened.

"We have now re-secured the property and will offer the flat to another prospective tenant once it has been made good.

"We are aware of one illegal occupant in Bradford Council in the last 12 months."