A mother has hit out at the standard of service provided by a care trust after claiming her family was given no notice that a vital respite unit was to close.

Kathleen Tristram, 61, contacted the T & A after learning the Reevy Road Respite Centre, in Wibsey, was to shut.

Mrs Tristram's severely disabled stepson, Edward, 25, had been staying at the centre one night each week.

Edward is severely mentally handicapped and epileptic.

Supply teacher Mrs Tristram, of Roundwood, Shipley, said: "My partner dropped Edward off as normal for his overnight stay and was told he would not be going again without any notice whatsoever. We now have no respite care at all.

"He had been going there for around six years and had stayed overnight to give us a break. We have carers morning and evening because I cannot look after him alone. He is 6ft and I am only 5ft 6 in.

"When he has fits he can kick furniture over."

Mrs Tristram said she and partner David Oldfield, 59, Edward's father, had received a letter inviting them to a meeting to discuss the future of the Reevy Road unit last December. But, the meeting had already taken place the previous month.

"There has been a lack of compassion, organisation and consideration," said Mrs Tristram. "We are now looking at six or seven weeks without Edward's weekly respite care before he moves to White Oaks in Fagley."

A Bradford District Care Trust spokesman said around 45 users of the Reevy Road unit would be transferred to White Oaks from mid-April.

He said: "We were concerned to hear of the family's experiences and have been in touch with them to discuss future respite care for their son."

He said the Trust was separating respite care from residential services to give focused and dedicated services for each, in line with regulations from the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate.

"The move will give a better service and was subject to two consultation meetings in November to which all affected parents were invited."