Health chiefs have backed the company in charge of security at Airedale Hospital in spite of serious concerns from members of staff.

Airedale NHS Trust chief executive Bob Allen said he was "satisfied" with the levels of security provided at the Steeton hospital by company CP Plus.

Mr Allen spoke out as staff concerned about their safety held a protest meeting at the hospital yesterday.

Union bosses claim a car park attendant has been used as a security guard and that security cover at the hospital is woefully inadequate.

The man, who has not been trained in control and restraint techniques, has been patrolling corridors of the hospital.

Gary Baker, area organiser of the General Municipal and Boilermakers Union, has written to Mr Allen, expressing his concern and is also demanding the re-instatement of security officer Joe Brady by his employers, CP Plus -- the contract company running the hospital's car parks and security.

He resigned after suffering a trauma when identifying two women mental health patients who were killed on the Leeds to Skipton line, but later asked for his job back.

Mr Baker said: "There have been instances where untrained staff have been taken from car park duty to do security duty."

He said he was also investigating claims that the hospital had no security staff on duty last Friday and only one working on Saturday.

He also understood there was a shortage of security staff on News Year's Day, New Year's Eve and on Christmas Eve.

Mr Allen said: "This issue seems to be around one individual employed by CP Plus who is in dispute with the company.

"The bottom line is we have a contract with this organisation and we are satisfied with the way the contract has been delivered. We don't have any major concerns, and if we were to do so we would be in talks with the contractor."

Mr Allen also said there was no connection between the tragic deaths of the two mental health patients and the levels of security at Airedale.

Ian Langdon, CP Plus's senior operations executive, has refused to discuss the claims. "We won't discuss company matters," he said.