The lack of a live-in warden has residents of an Addingham sheltered flats complex fearing for their safety.

Last week entry had to be forced into one flat at the Bradford Council-run Southfield House so ambulance staff could reach an elderly woman.

In the absence of a permanent on-site warden - the last holder of the post retired in November - residents are tended to by the Careline communication system and visiting care workers.

Long-time resident Norris Mallison, 85, said: "This lady was on the floor and we could hear her wailing and moaning. It was decided to call the ambulance and the Careline, and they were supposed to be on their way. These are supposed to be warden-controlled flats and they are putting all of these things on to the Careline."

Another resident, Kathleen Wright, 85, said utility workers have been unable to locate meters, and new residents have had to be shown around by existing ones.

"The only people with a master key are the Careline people and that is kept at Keighley," she said.

On the most recent incident, a spokesman for Bradford Council, said: "During a routine visit to residents in Southfield House, a social services homecare worker found an elderly woman collapsed in her home.

"The worker called Careline for assistance but the mobile warden was out of the immediate area at the time so instead of waiting she took the correct action and contacted the local housing office to force entry and an ambulance took the woman to the Airedale Hospital.

"At present, residents at Southfield House have 24-hour emergency access to a mobile warden because the last resident one retired recently.

"The post will be advertised this month and it is hoped a new warden will start work at the end of March."

A Careline spokesman said: "Residents are covered by our 24-hour intercom system at all times."

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