A day trip to Flamingoland as part of a "good neighbour" scheme ended in a row when three women and eight children were left behind.

The trip has caused a lot of anger from residents and the representative who was in charge has now resigned after a barrage of complaints.

Resident Humera Khanum, 27, claimed her representative and neighbour Azeem Shah, who is supposed to represent Barkerend tenants' interests to Manningham Housing Association, insisted the coach left Flamingoland without her and two friends, one of whom was pregnant, and their children.

He has now tendered his resignation from the scheme, saying he no longer wanted the job and claiming other families were causing trouble by over-reacting to the incident.

But Mrs Khanum, who was left behind with her four children after the oldest girl injured her wrist making them 15 minutes late for the coach, is still furious.

"He left a woman with four kids there vulnerable, which is not acceptable. I had little money with me and the children's coats were on the coach. Another lady left with me had a six-month-old with her and is four months' pregnant," she said.

The women came back in two taxisat a cost of £110. Her daughter, Kiran Hussain, was later treated in hospital for the sprained wrist.

Mrs Khanum, whose youngest child is only two, said: "The children were hungry and crying, they were ill on the way back."

Fellow resident Ruth Cadamarteri pleaded with the driver to go back when she realised Mrs Khanum was not there. Miss Cadamarteri had seen her in the toilets before boarding the coach herself and knew she was not far behind.

Mr Shah denies any wrongdoing, saying they should have sent someone to the coach warning they would be late.

He had given clear instructions that the coach would leave at 6pm and only left at 6.20pm after being told Mrs Khanum was the only adult missing. Mrs Khatun's companions were friends who had paid for their trip to use up the empty places and Mr Shah said he had no responsibility for people who were not part of the scheme.

"I had to consider other families who were getting bored on the bus and some young children were crying. I had to give my priority to them," he said. "If Humera was left behind, it's due to her own negligence."

The day trip, attended by ten of the scheme's 22 families, was paid for by the housing association to help foster good community spirit as part of the pioneering Mutual Aid scheme, introduced to the area by Manningham Housing Association a year ago. It was the first of its kind in the country and neighbours had to sign a pledge to "know and support one another".

Manningham Housing Association director Anil Singh said this incident did not threaten the good neighbour scheme, adding: "I would say it was the contrary, because this was generally a very good trip which was enjoyed by all, apart from the behaviour of one of the residents on the scheme."

The fact that local people had banded together to support the woman scheme member left behind in Flamingoland showed the Mutual Aid project's success, said Mr Singh.

He said the housing association had been supportive of them by investigating the incident and would pay the taxi bill.

"Azeem has done a lot of good work in the community. I have not heard any complaints until now," he said.

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