Official grievances have been received by Bradford Council from six members of staff working on a troubled training scheme.

The complaints have been submitted to the authority by public services union, GMB, on behalf of its members.

The staff have complained about their alleged treatment involving senior officers in connection with the NVQ training scheme at Metrochange House.

The latest bombshell follows the closure of the centre which has been the centre of stringent investigations.

The centre shut suddenly last October, leaving more than 80 students without places.

Students, who did not want to be named, had previously told the Telegraph & Argus about a catalogue of complaints including lack of help and work which stood unmarked for long periods.

An investigation is being carried out by the Council's internal auditors and the government's Qualifications and Curriculum authority.

But Tory and Liberal Democrat councillors claim they have been kept in the dark about what really happened and a document leaked to the T&A said that crisis-hit Metrochange House could have been put on the right course for less than £5,000.

Instead it was closed down because the Council said the students would have suffered because the timescale would have affected their courses.

Today a GMB official confirmed official grievances have been submitted and said they would be investigated by the Council.

Chairman of the Council's regeneration committee, Councillor Dave Green, said any complaints would go through the normal grievance procedure.

But opposition group councillors praised the courage of staff who had complained.

Training sub-committee member, Councillor David Ward, (Idle Lib Dem) said: "I have sympathy with them and think they have been very courageous for doing this. We should give them every support."

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