Disabled groups have criticised a decision by transport chiefs to remove seating at Bradford Interchange.

The seats have been removed from outside WHSmith in the station concourse after it was claimed that they were becoming a magnet for youths to congregate and abuse passengers.

Brian Lawrence, a support worker at Bradford College, says the seats are essential for his disabled partner, Jen, who uses them while they wait for a taxi.

He has written to Metro, West Yorkshire's passenger transport executive, which manages the Interchange, and received a reply saying that teenagers congregating around the area had been a factor in the decision to remove them.

Mr Lawrence, 61, of Great Horton, Bradford, said: "My partner comes up from Cambridge to stay during the summer. She needs a seat and cannot stand for more than a few minutes.

David Naylor, a development worker with the Bradford Disability Support Services group, said Mr Lawrence was one of several people who had contacted him about the removal of the seats.

He said: "The disabled toilets are on the same level as where the seats used to be. It seems really strange to take them out.

"There are plenty of police support workers who work in and around the Interchange. Surely it could be left to them to get rid of any crowds of youths."

Angie Williamson, of Bradford Older People's Alliance, said it seemed counterproductive and affected a lot of people.

A Metro spokesman said: "Bradford Interchange's lower concourse is a busy area predominately used by people making their way to the upper areas to catch buses and trains.

"To reduce congestion in that area and make it easier for people using the nearby facilities such as the shops and photo-booths, three months ago Metro removed the ten seats on the lower concourse.

Anti-social behaviour was also a consideration. We would remind passengers that there are still more than 250 seats on the upper concourse, which is where they need to go to catch their bus and that the rail station has platform seating and a waiting area for train passengers."

She added: "If Mr Lawrence contacts a member of Metro's bus station staff, they can organise for a taxi to collect her at one of the Interchange's first floor bus stands, where there is ample seating and it is easier for her to see the taxi and be seen by the taxi's driver."