Bradford will receive an annual £17.1 million grant from the Government towards helping some of the district's most vulnerable people.

It is one of 15 local authorities in Yorkshire and Humber which will share an estimated £133 million a year to deliver the new Supporting People project.

Bradford comes second to Leeds, which will receive £33 million. The Government ex-pects it to administer a scheme producing support services for the vulnerable like the homeless, older people and women fleeing domestic violence.

The programme was described by Housing Mnister Jeff Rooker as a new way of planning and improving housing. The aim is to prevent crises such as hospitalisation, homelessness or going into institutional care by providing early support when it was most effective.

But today deputy leader of Bradford Council Councillor Simon Cooke said they were already finding implementation of the scheme an "administrative nightmare".

He said: "At the moment the administrative system is incomplete and we are finding it complicated. We welcome the funding for Bradford, although it is coming from existing pots which we would have benefited from and is all drawn together."

The programme goes live in April and the office of the Deputy Prime Minister has worked closely with Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale and Kirklees councils which are among the authorities receiving funds.

Kirklees will receive £7.7 million and Calderdale £4.8 million a year. They have to ensure contracts for services are completed in time because failure could jeopardise the award.

Mr Rooker said: "The services will help to ensure vulnerable people become and remain independent in the community, such as helping young homeless people prepare for greater independence through training in basic life skills and helping older people remain in their homes."

The local authorities will work with partners including health and probation services.