Mental health chiefs have admitted Bradford's secure psychiatric unit could close unless action is taken to improve it.

The warning has emerged from a confidential report by inspectors from the Mental Health Act Commission expressing concern about the low-security Kestrel Unit at Lynfield Mount Hospital.

It followed a routine visit last month by inspectors who were told women patients on the unit felt under threat.

Bosses at Bradford Community Health NHS Trust have to draw up a response within the next fortnight to a series of issues raised by the inspector.

Independent experts have also been called in to advise on improvements to the unit which offers care to up to 14 severely ill patients diagnosed as a danger to themselves or others.

Con Egan, chief executive at the Trust, said the inspector had made it clear that unless he was satisfied in the long term about safety of patients, further action would be taken, which could include closure of the unit.

But he would make sure that did not happen and every point raised by the inspector would be answered and details given of action implemented.

"The bottom line is, it is their ultimate power to withdraw the right for us to section anybody within that area. It's not going to get anywhere near that stage as far as we are concerned. We are not saying there is nothing wrong and we are taking this seriously.''

Bradford West MP Marsha Singh said he was concerned about the implications of the warning from inspectors.

He said: "It suggests to me there must be something very major wrong if the inspector is saying they should take action and if none is taken that could lead to closure."

Lesley Sterling-Baxter, chief officer of Bradford Community Health Council, said it was very disturbing.

Patients had previously been transferred to units well out of the area before it finally opened at a cost of £400,000 five years ago in a building originally built as a workhouse. More than 2,000 people had signed up to oppose the 12-bed unit, raising fears potentially violent patients could escape.

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