Health watchdogs want to see a smaller mental health unit to replace the existing two wards at Airedale General Hospital in Steeton.

Airedale Community Health Council is calling for an intensive care flexible building with some secure provision.

And it wants to see the setting up of more "crisis intervention" teams to help people in their homes.

Bradford District Care Trust bosses are consulting the public over plans to improve the service at Airedale and has suggested a number of options, including a new building.

They say the wards are not providing a theraputic environment and they do not enable people to be treated in safety and with privacy.

The consultation follows the publication of a report by the Mental Health Act Commission which claimed a culture of suicide had grown on the wards.

Five mental health patients have committed suicide by leaving the wards undetected, several throwing themselves in front of trains on the nearby Airedale line. CHC members agreed that despite it's proximity to the railway, Leeds-Liverpool canal and Aire Valley trunk road, Airedale was the best location.

Peter Putwain, chairman of the CHC's shadow patients joint forum, said the smaller unit must have some secure provision and be flexible enough to deal with people quickly in times of crisis.

But the CHC said people should be treated as much as possible in their own homes. And as a consequence there should be more crisis intervention teams.

Mike Doyle of Craven Patients Forum, said it was vital that arrangements were made with neighbouring health trusts to provide crisis teams in the far reaches of Craven.

The forum agreed that consideration should also be given to providing accommodation for a mother and baby; accommodation for carers when the person they care for is admitted for intensive care; accommodation for people with eating disorders; and a place for people to spend "quiet time" away from intensive care. The consultation ends on Friday February 28.

Comments can be sent to Kevin Ellis, Chief Executive Airedale Primary Care Trust 21a Mornington Street, Keighley BD21 2EA.